🚵🇧🇪 | Een schandalige actie van iemand uit het publiek in Oudenaarde. Een man lijkt een vol glas bier over de Belg te gooien. Deze toeschouwer moet toch makkelijk op te sporen zijn... #Koppenbergcross 📺 Veldrijden stream je op HBO Max
Van der Haar capitalizes on Nys' clever move and holds off beer-soaked Iserbyt on the Koppenberg
Cyclo-crossFriday, 01 November 2024 at 14:20
Lars van der Haar managed to claim victory at the Koppenbergcross in the elite men’s category. In the traditionally All Saints’ Day (November 1) race, he took control of the grueling course around the Bult van Melden. The race was marked by an incident where a spectator threw beer over Eli Iserbyt.
Friday at 3:00 PM: the Koppenberg cross. Just 48 hours later: the European Championship cross in Pontevedra, Galicia. These aren’t easy weekends for a cyclocross racer—or perhaps they’re exactly what they train for. After all, these are the races many riders live for: a classic on Friday, followed by a championship on Sunday.
In his pre-race interview, Thibau Nys remarked that "the best would win" on the Koppenberg. "There won’t be much difference made on technique. Everyone rides around here feeling like the course is unforgiving. But it’s one of the races marked as very important; for me, it’s almost as important as the European Championship," said the son of nine-time Koppenberg conqueror Sven.
Nys misses the start, Lauryssen takes an impressive lead
When the starting gun went off, it was Thijs Aerts (whose brother Toon was on row four) who took the lead, while Nys only came up in twelfth position on the first pass of the well-known cobbled climb. The first surprising name to create a gap was Yorben Lauryssen. The “domestique” for Pauwels Sauzen Bingoal managed to put some pressure on Nys, which could work to the advantage of his teammates Iserbyt and Michael Vanthourenhout.
And so it happened: Iserbyt launched the chase, with Thijs Aerts and Vanthourenhout following closely. Aerts had to drop back, leaving it suddenly as a 1-2-3 for the Sauzen riders. Nys wanted to chase on the Koppenberg but slipped, unintentionally blocking both Toon Aerts and himself. Nys’s second attempt was also thwarted when he got caught on a barrier.
Meanwhile, Lauryssen handed the lead to Vanthourenhout and Iserbyt, though there was an unfortunate incident: Iserbyt was hit with a full cup of beer, which was clearly captured on camera. The police promptly responded, seizing the offender quite literally and figuratively by the collar. This, too, was captured on camera, ensuring this man won’t forget All Saints' Day anytime soon.
Read more below the video
At the front, the race regrouped: Nys, Toon Aerts, and Van der Haar joined Vanthourenhout and Iserbyt, creating a strong quintet on the Koppenberg. When four of them dove into the pits, the fifth (Van der Haar) attacked. Iserbyt had to respond to this, but... his counterattack stalled.
Nys played it smart, allowing his teammate to create a gap, but then struggled himself when Iserbyt put the power down on the Koppenberg. With two laps remaining, the gap was thirty seconds, but the chase was still on. However, the leader held off the attack, securing another major victory for Van der Haar, signaling he’s ready for the European Championship this Sunday. Iserbyt and Aerts claimed the remaining podium spots.
Results X2O Trofee Koppenbergcross Oudenaarde men 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