🚴🇧🇪 | Een slopende cross met Michael Vanthourenhout als eindwinnaar! Na Dublin nu ook de beste in Herentals 👏👏 #x2obadkamerstrofee 📺 Stream veldrijden op HBO Max
Vanthourenhout defeats tough Ronhaar in final lap Herentals: "Pim and I were the strongest"
Cyclo-crossSaturday, 14 December 2024 at 17:16
It's two out of two for Michael Vanthourenhout. The former European champion already won earlier this month in Dublin, and now he claims the victory in the X2O cyclo-cross in Herentals. After a thrilling battle, he held off number two Pim Ronhaar due to a strong final lap.
Afterward, the crosser from Bingoal-Pauwels Sauzen thoroughly enjoyed his victory, especially after the battle with his Dutch competitor. "It's always nice when you can win, especially when it is this spectacular," he said in the flash interview. "I think Pim and I were the strongest of the race. I had set my sights on the last lap, but I had to push all the way to the finish line. But when you come out on top, it's always fun."
In the opening phase, Vanthourenhout needed to close a gap on Toon Aerts, who had taken a fast start. He didn't want to give him too much margin. "I know Toon can accelerate. If you give him 20 or 25 seconds, it's hard to gain on him. I went flat out for one lap and got on his wheel immediately. I did notice then that I had a perfect day." It did not overtake him immediately: all focus was on the last lap. "In the last lap, I just turned it into a very long final, and in the end, I came out on top."
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Winning on the citadel in Namur on Sunday? "Tomorrow will definitely be great in the white jersey"
After his World Cup victory in Ireland, this is his second in a row. The form is spot on with Vanthourenhout. He will start Sunday at the World Cup in Namur as the leader in the ranking. "First, I'll try to recover and also enjoy today because it's always nice to win. Tomorrow will be great in the white jersey, so I will do my best to enjoy it."
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Latest Comments
- I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- 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