Bytager the publication "In Belgium, professionals want to recover their KOM"
Belgian professional riders set out to hunt down Strava KOMs held by amateurs on the hills of the Tour of Flanders. A digital feud with the feel of a battle of egos, but also a lesson in the excesses of constant comparison. In a world where even GPS tracks can lie, the line between pride and illusion becomes blurred... we explain!
By Jeff Tatard – Photos: DR
The gods of asphalt have descended from their Olympus… In Belgium, several professional runners have decided to go on a digital crusade to reclaim their lost thrones: these famous KOMs (King of the Mountain) stolen by mere mortals, enthusiasts, sometimes just inspired guys on a favorable day… or helped by a few technological tricks.
And now the pros, their pride stinging, are organizing to take back what "belongs" to them. It's funny, touching... and a little sad.
When the elite starts chasing ghosts
In a world where everything is already measured, where performance dissolves into watts and percentstagis, Strava has become the crudest mirror of our time : a temple of comparison, a social network for athletes in search of validation.
It's understandable that an amateur would seek to exist through a KOM. But when professional riders – those who make a living from cycling, who already have the trophies, the contracts, the reconbirth – are chasing a virtual record on the Koppenberg or the Paterberg, one can legitimately ask: what are they still looking for?
Is this really the fun of the game? Or is it the fear of seeing their status waver in the eyes of others? Because on Strava, everyone is naked: no more team jersey, no more podium, just a GPS track and a ranking. And maybe that's the real pain: being overtaken by a stranger with an ironic nickname and a heart rate monitor.
The distorting mirror of the ego
The ego, this driving and destructive force at the same time, invites itself into every pedal strokeWe think we're riding for ourselves, but we're always riding a little bit against others. KOMs are the currency of our time: little digital totems to reassure our ego, to prove that we exist. And some, even among the pros, fall into the trap. Because humans remain human, whatever the color of the jersey. They want to be seen, reconnaked, admired. And when the glory fades, there is always the comfort of a Strava segment where one can still "dominate."
Cheating, the other side of the myth
But let's be honest: If some pros want to take back their KOMs, it may also be because the KOMs were stolen.. The wind, GPS errors, descents cut a little short… or worse, tools capable of making perfect traces. There are now apps like FakeMy.Run, which allow you to create fake outings, living room KOMs, couch exploits. So cheating comes not only from above, but also from below..
And in this shadow game, everyone ends up doubting: who really deserved their record? Who really climbed that cobblestone wall at 500 watts? The line between performance and illusion blurs, and the competition becomes a theater of egos where truth no longer always has the last word.
The honor of losing
So, ultimately, should we blame these pros who want to reclaim their KOMs? Maybe not. But we can remind them of one simple thing: the nobility of sport is also accepting to be beaten —even virtually. An amateur climbing a Flemish mountain faster than a pro on a training run is a wonderful thing. It's a sign that passion sometimes transcends hierarchy. Cycling has never been just about numbersIt's first and foremost a matter of breath, willpower, and ego that must be tamed as much as one's cardio.
KOMs pass, emotions remainAnd maybe one day, the pros will understand that the real summit isn't on Strava, but in the peace found after the finish line.
