Former world champion Philippe Gilbert predicted a future full of success for fellow Belgian and current rainbow jersey holder Remco Evenpoel after they rode together in the last event in Bince-Chimay-Bince, Belgium, on Tuesday.

Gilbert, who has won four of the five Monuments, numerous Classics, the UCI Road World Championships, and all three Grand Tour stages, described his last race on Belgian soil and Evenpoel's first race in the rainbow jersey as a symbolic "champion-to He described it as a "transfer of power.

Gilbert, 40, will take part in Thursday's Paris-Bruges and finish his road racing career on Sunday at Paris-Tour.

However, the leader of the Lotto-Soudal briefly led Evenpoel at the finish in Binche, paying tribute to the most Belgian winners of the world championships and monuments held in Gilbert's home region of the Ardennes: Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

"There were a lot of emotions. There are not many moments like this," Gilbert said after the race.

"With Lemko becoming world champion ten years after me, it was a symbolic event, as if power had passed between two champions.

"I myself spent a lot of my top years going from race to race without fully enjoying the racing. But now I can enjoy myself in this last race."

In Binche-Chimay-Binche, Gilbert, who finished sixth after joining a late breakaway, stood at the start line with Evenpoel and made a photo call before the race began. At the finish, Gilbert again received a lot of attention from the media, fans, and race organizers.

"Lemko represents a new generation of Belgians," said the 2012 world champion.

"The future is bright. Lemko will win many great races. I am happy to be running next to him in the peloton. It's his first race as world champion and my last race in Belgium.