🚵🇧🇪 | Zelfs een klein slippertje weet Iserbyt niet af te stoppen. In het begin ging de Belg nog even onderuit maar toch weet hij de cross in Kortrijk te winnen. Chapeau! 👏👏 📺 Stream veldrijden op HBO Max
Pauwels Sauzen riders skillfully trick the Alpecin ones in Exact Cross Kortrijk
Cyclo-crossSaturday, 23 November 2024 at 17:55
Eli Iserbyt won the Exact Cross of Kortrijk on Saturday. The Belgian champion built a decisive gap in the final laps with the help of his teammate Michael Vantourenhout to take his second win of the season. Niels Vandeputte defeated Vanthourenhout in the sprint for second place.
The next Exact Cross series was on the program in a cold Kortrijk. While most Dutch riders, such as Lars van der Haar and Pim Ronhaar, skipped the cyclo-cross race to start Sunday's first World Cup in Antwerp well rested, most of Belgium's top riders were present. So we saw Belgian champion Iserbyt, former European champion Vanthourenhout, Laurens Sweeck, and season revelation Vandeputte on the first row at the start.
Kuypers attacks first
Iserbyt was off to a good start and took the lead on the first lap. The other favorites for the win were among the first ten after the start. However, there was a brief gap behind the first three after Joran Wyseure slid. However, he recovered quickly and corrected the situation himself.
Entering the second lap, the first group consisted of eleven men. Among them was also Gerben Kuypers. The Belgian already has several top-ten finishes this season but has yet to make his mark on a cyclo-cross race. That is what he was aiming for in Kortrijk. With a strong acceleration, he reduced the front group to seven riders.
Making a difference on the fast course was challenging, with no real obstacles. Kuypers thus lowered the pace again, causing the front group to grow to ten. Vandeputte then briefly showed himself at the front, but he chose to save his energy for a later moment.
Iserbyt and Vanthourenhout play their game
Then Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal launched their well-practiced game. Vanthourenhout went to the front, and Iserbyt carefully created a gap, forcing Vandeputte to chase. The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider eventually closed the gap convincingly.
Vanthourenhout was caught so that Iserbyt could take his chance. The former left a gap, and the Belgian champion immediately took the lead. Again, it was up to the men from Alpecin-Deceuninck to close the gap. In addition to Vandeputte, Jente Michels was also on the front on behalf of the team. However, the work was taken out of their hands, nota bene by Iserbyt. He slid at the beginning of the fourth lap when taking a turn.
Now the game could start all over again. About halfway through, there were seven men left at the front: Iserbyt, Vanthourenhout, Michels, Vandeputte, Kuypers, Wyseure, and the surprising Anton Ferdinande, who usually finds himself between spot ten and twenty. Now, he had a golden opportunity to finish in the top spot.
Iserbyt does get away during second attack
Meanwhile, it was time for the second round of the Pauwels Sauces Bingoal game. It was Vanthourenhout's turn again, and he created a nice gap thanks to Iserbyt. The young Michels saw the danger and cleverly jumped to the leader. However, Iserbyt was in his wheel.
It was ideal for Iserbyt and Vanthourenhout, but Vandeputte was moving to make things right. However, when Vandeputte joined, Iserbyt attacked his teammate Vanthourenhout, preventing the Alpecin men from responding immediately.
Thus, Iserbyt grabbed a substantial lead, and once again, the Alpecin riders were on the defensive. Vandeputte knew it was all or nothing if he still wanted to win. He picked up the pace and seemed to be closing in, but a mistake meant he lost some seconds to Iserbyt. Vandeputte's mistake seemed to be crucial, as the gap rapidly increased in Iserbyt's favor.
With three laps to go, he had a 15-second lead. On the fast course, that was a significant difference. The Alpecin men also no longer had the confidence and legs to close the gap. They allowed themselves to be passed by Vanthourenhout, who thus reduced the pace even further.
Thus, Iserbyt's lead skyrocketed, and the cards were dealt. Iserbyt won his second cyclo-cross of the season with a nice solo. Earlier, he was the strongest in the Dutch race of Heerderstrand, also part of the Exact Cross. In the second-place battle, Vanthourenhout put pressure on Vandeputte and Michels in the final lap. While Michels had to drop out, Vandeputte defeated Vanthourenhout in the sprint.
Results Exact Cross Kotrijk 2024
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
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Latest Comments
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024