Iserbyt didn't understand Nys's overtaking move: "With all due respect, nine out of ten times, he crashes with such a move"

Eli Iserbyt has broken his winless streak by claiming victory in the Superprestige opener in Overijse. In the final lap, Iserbyt seized the opportunity when top favorite Thibau Nys suffered a crash, allowing him to celebrate his first win of the season. It was a double celebration for Jurgen Mettepenningen's protege, as he also turned 26 years old on the same day.

Iserbyt started like a rocket, exerting pressure on his competitors. He quickly gained an advantage with his Grifo tires, creating a substantial gap. This lead was further emphasized when Nys, who had bested him in the previous two races, experienced a slip in the second lap but managed to recover. However, a brief rain shower prompted the "soloist" Iserbyt to switch back to Rhino tires.

The "wrong" tire choice led to Nys, Lars van der Haar, and his Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal teammate Michael Vanthourenhout catching up around the midpoint of the race. It became a four-rider breakaway – unfortunate for Iserbyt, but undoubtedly a great spectacle for cyclocross enthusiasts. Iserbyt shared this sentiment, stating, "It was mentally challenging for a while, but I knew I had to give it everything on the last lap. It was a close call; any one of us could have won. So, for the viewers and fans, it was a thrilling race. It ranks among the most exciting races I've participated in, even if it doesn't necessarily have to be that thrilling for me," he added with a laugh. "Being caught but still managing to win demonstrates my mental strength."

Iserbyt expected attack from Nys, but at different time(s)

"The little mistakes did make the difference in the end," Iserbyt concluded, referring to Nys' slide. Speaking of Nys' slide, Iserbyt reveals that he sensed it coming. "I expected him at the second material zone, but when he came, I didn't. Then I anticipated him on the cobblestones, but he didn't show up there either. That's when I knew it would be tough for him. He attempted to pass me in a practically impossible spot. With all due respect, nine times out of ten, such a move results in a fall. That's why I left a small gap because it allowed me to exit the corner more efficiently. Thibau took a hard fall after that, and he had no chance of recovery. I was fortunate not to crash with him and continued on to victory."

All's well that ends well for Iserbyt, who believes his tire change did have some impact on the race's outcome. "If I had stayed on Grifos, I might have conserved more energy. My legs filled up more quickly on the climbs." This raises the question of whether he should have changed tires at all, considering it was a brief shower. "You can compare it to a stone floor; a little water makes it slippery. Michael is slightly more skilled technically and continued on Grifos, but that wasn't feasible for me. It was a fantastic birthday, one I won't soon forget."

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