A different mindset led Verstrynge to the podium in Namur: "I quickly regained focus again after the incident"

Emiel Verstrynge was the revelation of the cyclo-cross World Cup in Namur on Sunday. The 22-year-old Belgian had been competing with Michael Vanthourenhout and Toon Aerts for the victory for some time but had to settle for third place in the finale.

Verstrynge has been one of Belgium's most talented cyclists for years. Last season, he finished second at the U23 World Championships. In his first season as an elite rider this year, Verstrynge did not hit the ground running. He dropped back in the results after a good start in Beringen (sixth). After the cross in Niel ( November 11), Verstrynge also skipped several races due to a hamstring injury. In Namen, the Belgian rider made his comeback.

Verstrynge did so successfully, scoring third place. Yet the podium finish did not come out of the blue. He was already the winner in Namur for the past two years in the U23 category. Last season was at the World Cup; the year before, it was at the European Cyclo-cross Championships. 'I'm delighted and didn't expect to race with such a good feeling,' Verstrynge concluded with satisfaction in the flash interview.

Verstrynge: "A podium spot is possible for me"

In conversation with IDLProCycling.com, Verstrynge elaborated on his great race. "I came here with expectations. I trained well in the last weeks. I was already getting some confirmation on training, but to compete for the podium like this I had never done before. That was a bit unexpected, but it shows it can be done. That won't be possible every week, but it gives me a nice validation."

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Michael and Toon welcome Emiel Verstrynge to the #CXWorldCup Elite podium! 🤝 #FLCS

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The team management advised the young Belgian to approach the races differently. "We have to dare to race. I got a gap at one point, and it's not up to me to wait; I just have to take that chance. You don't get an opportunity like that every week, and riding in the picture is fun."

Until deep into the final, Verstrynge competed for the win. Until the last lap, he made a mistake and ended up next to his bike. "I had run out of strength. A little less focus, and I missed the grip on my handlebars. It was a mistake I really shouldn't make. Nobody is without faults on a lap like that, so fortunately, it didn't have many consequences."

Verstrynge attributes good race to "different mindset"

"I was surprised myself. I was focused today. It's often been in the past that I was preoccupied with the crowd. But now, I stayed in the zone and felt like riding around in my little world. I haven't often had that before, that I can ride around that way. I can only be happy if I continue racing with that mindset in the coming weeks."

Was that mentioned focus often missing from the driver, then? "Yes, true. Sometimes, I get too easily distracted by the crowd. But today, I was really on edge at the start and focused. I could think during the race, and that did surprise me."

The talented rider's mindset was also tested in Namur, and he says he handled it better than he sometimes did in the past. "For example, today as well: I jumped on the bike, and someone leaned a little too much over the fence, and I came full with my knee against his elbow. Then I worry for three or four seconds, but today, I quickly found the focus again after such an incident. In some races, it can take me longer. But those are exactly the moments you must put behind you quickly."

Verstrynge in 2025 WorldTour pro at Alpecin-Deceuninck

In addition to the cyclo-cross, Verstrynge is also a great talent on the road. Next season, he will debut in the WorldTour with Alpecin-Deceuninck. As a U23, Verstrynge showed himself with top ten finishes in the U23 versions of Paris-Roubaix and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, among others. For the past three seasons, Verstrynge, who competed in cyclo-cross for Corelan-Corendon, rode for the WorldTour formation's development team.

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