And you don’t expect them Remco Evenepoel, Filippo Ganna And Wout van Aert who laugh and joke on the podium and at the end they even take a selfie. It could be the first race they do, the first podium they step on… But the Olympics are something else. The sport changes, the spirit changes, everything or almost everything changes compared to a world championship, a classic. And you only have to look at them on the podium in Paris to understand that they are first, second and third in a unique and unrepeatable time trial. But above all different. And they know it very well too, who have already won, who are already champions, who are already used to wearing medals around their necks. The Olympics is something else, it is worth the compliments of the President of the Republic at the finish line Sergio Mattarella or of the King Philippe of Belgium. It’s worth a smile, it’s worth a pat on the back or on the nape of the neck shaved like a marine by the little big Belgian who’s as fast as a missile, it’s worth a selfie that’s hard to take because the phone doesn’t want to know about it. It’s worth a lot, it’s worth double. And an Olympic medal, whatever it is, is worth forever. The time trial at the Paris Games gives the best that can be. Gold to Remco Evenepoel, silver to Filippo Ganna, bronze to Wout van Aert: right like that. In fact, very right. “It’s not the medal I wanted, but I was beaten by a cyclist with a capital C, a champion – explains Ganna upon arrival – I tried to give my best until the end. Unfortunately, with the rain you know I’m not a dragon but I tried to do my best. I’m still happy to have arrived on the podium and to have won the first medal for Italy”. Which stings a little, but less than other times. That leaves him with a bit of regret even if Ganna wrote a piece of history today anyway while waiting, hopefully, to continue writing it. Which also applies to the two Belgians. Evenepoel is a phenomenon and not only in one-day races. What he showed at the Tour is a preview of what he will be able to do, starting next year, in stage races, Van Aert is an absolute champion who with today’s bronze is trying to start again in a black season that couldn’t be blacker. First, second and third in a time trial that is not one of the many time trials that have run and will run. The Games are something else, another challenge, another world. And you just have to look at these champions accustomed to prizes and victories, still capable of getting excited. You never get used to an Olympics…