Mathieu van der Poel won the Azencross in Loenhout. With surprising ease. Van der Poel began an impressive one-man show just before the halfway mark. No surprise, because without Van Aert, Van der Haar and Iserbyt and co, he was also the only big favourite. Six out of six for the world champion this season.
No Wout van Aert, Tom Pidcock, Joris Nieuwenhuis, Eli Iserbyt or Lars van der Haar in Loenhout. Too bad, because the route was suitable for an old-fashioned mud duel. At the start: world champion Mathieu van der Poel. The question wasn’t whether he would win, but rather when he would begin his one-man show.
Apparently not from the beginning, which by the way went completely wrong. At the back of the group, dozens of riders fell to the ground. Florian Vermeersch, who came to prepare his road season with this cross, was the biggest victim and came away with a lot of pain in his elbow.
Eurosport.es @Eurosport_ES
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It took some research to locate the Belgians in Loenhout. The best starters were actually one Spanish and one Swiss. Felipe Orts and Timon Ruegg. Mathieu van der Poel observed everything from the second row, where he wasn’t always safe to be. The Vandebosch carton literally dove into the mud, Van der Poel barely managed to avoid it.
© BELGIUM
The time has come to act alone and avoid the hustle and bustle. Gianni Vermeersch came to roll out the red carpet, but shortly before the start of the fourth round Van der Poel went solo. After two strips of mud he had already started to fly, no one could follow him anymore. In an instant the difference exceeded fifteen seconds.
© BELGIUM
Van der Poel enjoyed Loenhout and continued to expand his lead. After an hour of burning in the mud, he crossed the finish line with a broad smile. Only 38 seconds later Gianni Vermeersch finished second. Orts completed the podium.
Eurosport Netherlands @Eurosport_NL
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Mathieu van der Poel: “It was easier to go around alone”
Winning has become routine for Van der Poel this winter. He certainly liked it. “It was an old-fashioned mud cross, but I like doing it. Loenhout is also a home cross for me. The atmosphere was fantastic.”
The world champion did not have this method in mind in advance. “I just walked away and moved on. The group remained a bit large for the first half hour, so Gianni (Vermeersch, ed.) and I tried to thin out the group a bit. I also said before that it was easier to travel alone. It’s safer that way.”
What will Van der Poel do now? “Eat calmly and rest. I’m also catching up on some sleep after yesterday’s evening crossing to Diegem.”
I WAIT. Van der Poel wins again, this time after a slightly shorter solo: “It was a good choice to stay on the wheels longer”
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3.58pm
Van der Poel wins!
Mission accomplished. Van der Poel wins for the fourth time in Loenhout and takes his sixth victory of the season.
3.50pm
Last lap
Van der Poel is on his last lap. The crowd is having fun in Loenhout and even the sun is coming out for a while.
3.49pm
© BELGIAN © BELGIAN
3.47pm
Vermeersch regains command
The battle for second place remains exciting. Gianni Vermeersch has a better moment and surpasses Orts. Kamp needs to loosen up a bit.
3.43pm
Orts towards second place
Felipe Orts managed to break away from Kamp and Vermeersch. The Spaniard seems headed towards second place.
3.39pm
43 seconds
Van der Poel’s lead continues to grow steadily. Orts now takes the lead among the chasers and follows him at 43 seconds.
3.37pm
Tension for second place
Felipe Orts, Ryan Kamp and Gianni Vermeersch keep their balance. They compete for second place. Kamp is the one who takes the most initiative at the moment.
3.33pm
20 seconds
Sometimes you feel sorry for Loenhout’s mud, Van der Poel really runs through it. The Dutchman already has a twenty second lead. Punishment.
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3.29pm
Van der Poel solo
Voila, it took 26 minutes: Mathieu van der Poel started flying. Orts is out of breath and has to give up for ten seconds.
3.28pm
Van der Poel is here!
Van der Poel goes to get a new bike and changes gear. Only Orts is still dangling from it. Doesn’t seem to last long.
3.23pm
Gianni Vermeersch at the head
Then a compatriot leads the race. Gianni Vermeersch sprints forward and shoots hard. Van der Poel once again remains calm in second place.
© Photo News
3.18pm
The Swiss takes over
Now Orts has disappeared from the limelight a bit. Now it is the Swiss Timon Ruëgg who takes the lead for Van der Poel.
3.16pm
Vandebosch dives into the mud
Toon Vandebosch literally dives into the mud, Van der Poel barely manages to avoid him. Things are a little chaotic in Azencross.
3.11pm
Orts on the washboard
Orts continues to lead in the difficult sections of Loenhout. Mathieu van der Poel watches it from the second row.
© Photo News
3.08pm
Orts in the lead
No, Van der Poel hasn’t left alone yet. On a strip of heavy mud he prefers to walk, allowing himself to be overtaken by the Spanish champion Felipe Orts.
3.02pm
Van der Poel with the holeshot, Vermeersch hard on the ground
Done! Who else but Mathieu van der Poel will take the holeshot. In the background, Florian Vermeersch hits the ground hard, screams in pain and grabs his elbow. Things are not going well for the young Lotto Dstny rider.
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2.29pm
Vince Sanne Cant
In the absence of the entire world top – the top six of the UCI world rankings (Alvarado, Van Empel, Brand, Pieterse, Worst and Van der Heijden) took a break – Belgian champion Sanne Cant won the women’s Azencross. Second Kristyna Zemanova, third Manon Bakker.
© Photo News
The trio immediately distanced themselves from the others after leaving. In the third of four rounds, Cant scored. Loenhout was his first non-BK win since Berencross at Meulebeke… 818 days ago (October 2, 2021). She subsequently gave free rein to his emotions. (gloating) “This is very gratifying. With the strong youth that has emerged, winning is not so easy these days. I’m glad it worked. Even if not against the strongest competition, but I don’t care: I only have one nice victory for the UCI.”
The 33-year-old Kempen’s enthusiasm was evident throughout the match. “I wanted it so bad, but being one of the few in this group of participants, I was ready for my third consecutive race day. This caused some doubts. Also it was quite late on Thursday evening, in Diegem. I was no longer able to behave decently. Massage and had to make do with the legs they gave me.” In two weeks Cant will win his fifteenth consecutive national title, yes, in Meulebeke. “I’ve been the favorite at the start for years, now it won’t be different. Fourteen years is already good, fifteen is even better. But hey, nothing will change about my record and my career. Those three rainbow shirts remain the most important .” (JDK)
Sanne Cant. © Photo News
2.23pm
Van der Poel: “It was a short night”
“It was a rather short night,” says Van der Poel of ‘Wielerflits’, referring to last night’s crossing to Diegem. Today will be a muddy day. “This is the most fun part of Loenhout. I love doing it. It’s very difficult. You can barely see the tracks. It’s important to make as few mistakes as possible.”
Yesterday he waited. Also today? “In a mud cross like this I prefer to be in the lead. But I want to face today as economically as possible, with a view to tomorrow.”
2.16pm
Eight seconds
The Czech hasn’t given up yet. Eight bars are the difference between Cant and Zemanova. Our compatriot cannot slow down and cannot afford to make a technical error. Bakker, third, is on course for the win.
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2023-12-29 14:28:00
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