Trainer Van Aert will be happy: Two young fans return Van Aert's lost watch – "There are still honest people in the world"

While Van Aert was busy giving multiple interviews after the championship and the podium ceremony, the press officer of the Belgian team was tapped on the shoulder. "They found Wout's watch," was the message they got from the French organization.

At that moment, Van Aert was asked whether his coach at Visma | Lease a Bike, Mathieu Heijboer, would still be able to do his job now that Van Aert couldn’t upload his data. "Even worse," he laughed, "is that I might be five kilometers short to reach a nice round number at the end of the year. That’s how those guys think, you know. I’m serious."

After speaking with the written press, including IDLProCycling.com, two young fans walked into the mixed zone, holding the watch in their hands. Van Aert took a good look to make sure it was his, and then saw that everything was in order. "Thank you guys. Where did you find the watch?" he asked the boys. "On the descent," the two French youngsters replied.

And just like that, Van Aert had his watch back, meaning he could upload his race data for analysis as usual. When he crossed the finish line, he had already tried to stop the timer on his watch, but by then, it was already lying somewhere on the course. "Do you want to take a photo?" he asked. The two happy boys eagerly agreed. "There are still honest people in the world," Van Aert laughed about the incident.

Meanwhile, the Belgian from Visma | Lease a Bike posted his performance on Strava. Whereas he completed the World Championship course of Liévin in 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 29 seconds, his watch only recorded 59 minutes and 30 seconds. So, halfway through the last lap, things went wrong. "My Garmin watch came off when I hit a pole on the last lap," he explained under the data. "But two kids brought it back!" Incidentally, Van Aert's fastest lap was good for sixth place on Strava: the fastest was Aubin Sparfel, the French rider who finished sixth in the U23s.

The 18-year-old talent had set this time in December on a training ride. Looking at the times set this weekend, British junior Oscar Amey set the best lap. He completed the course in 7.26 minutes. Now the wait is on for most of the pros, who will probably beat the record.

Van Aert wasn't the only one who rode around with a unique watch. Mathieu van der Poel announced a partnership with Richard Mille just before the start of the World Championships. With that watch, an M 67-02 Automatic Extra Flat worth over 300,000 euros, the Dutch defending champion hit the road Sunday. The watch was featured at the center of the now seven-time world champion's victory lap.