During the last lap, the photographers, all in yellow vests issued by the organization, flock over to a special area behind the finish line. As can be seen in the UCI regulations, 15 meters after the line are to be drawn two white lines forming a V in the road from behind which photographers are able to shot the finish of the race. And at Diegem, this was done perfectly. And it was controlled well too. I saw one photographer who was about one foot in front of the "V" and the course marshals moved him back behind the line.

The race is being watched on a television monitor on the line by a Belgian UCI commissaire who has been assigned as the "TV commissaire". This is the first race to have this new position. I call it the Bart Wellens effect (see news clipping link below). During the last lap, the President of the race jury also watched the race from the outside the television production van stationed 15 meters forward of the finishing line.

During this final lap, the race announcer has been given the random and reserve rider numbers for doping control. He makes two announcements of these numbers. And as per UCI regulations, the winner will be controlled too.

The two judges on the line take the order of finish. I didn’t see the presence of a camera. A timer also takes the time of each finishing group. Overlooking the shoulders of the judges are people from the television production crew calling in by radio the "unofficial" official finish order from the note sheets of the judges.

The winners go through the middle of the "V" of photographers and are met by their soigneurs. The podium placers are herded into a special white tent adjacent to the course where they give on the spot television interviews. The background screen in this tent is covered with the Super Prestige principle sponsor’s name – Karcher, Karcher, Karcher.

The awards stage is located 100 meters in front of the finish line. Adjacent to that stage is a white tent where the podium winners can clean up and get a change of warmup clothes to prepare for the awards presentation, which is televised within minutes of the finish.

After the finish of the last rider, the judges and timers walk back to the permenance. The chief judge calls out the first rider’s number, the second judge confirms, then the timer then calls out the "@" time of that rider. The computer operator is recording this information. Within minutes, a preliminary order of finish is released for the press and then the computer operator preps the formal final results in UCI format.