Cyclocross
Wout van Aert wins Belgian CX Champs despite crashing into barriers (VIDEO)
Wout Van Aert (Crelan-Vastgoedservice) took his first Elite Belgian cyclo-cross title today living up to his pre-race favourite tag. He won by 24 seconds from Laurens Sweeck (Era Real Estate - Murprotec) with Sven Nys (Crelan-AA Drink) taking third. However, it nearly all went wrong at one stage for Van Aert as he went over his handlebars into the barriers...
“Use your head snotnose” – Sven Nys furious with Gianni Vermeersch (VIDEO)
Yesterday's victory by Dieter Vanthourenhout (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) at Ereprijs Paul Herygers in Bredene was overshadowed by an incident on the last lap whereby Gianni Vermeersch (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) pushed Sven Nys (Crelan - AA Drink) into the barriers. Nys confronted Vermeersch immediately after the race. "Use your head snotnose (brat)," the 39 year-old told his younger compatriot. Tim Merlier (Vastgoedservice-Golden Palace Cycling...
When Adri van der Poel finally became World Cyclocross Champion (VIDEO)
By Graham Healy Dutch rider Adri van der Poel built up a pretty impressive palmares during his career. Amongst his victories were the Tour of Flanders in 1986, Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 1988, Amstel Gold in 1990 in addition to two stages of the Tour de France. However, one race that was missing from his list of victories and that he had come...
Mathieu Van der Poel on form in Heusden-Zolder
World Champion Mathieu Van der Poel appears to be coming into form at the right time to defend his title next month, as he took his second UCI World Cup victory in Heusden-Zolder yesterday, one week after winning the Namur round. Van der Poel set a furious pace early on, with only three riders able to keep up - Belgian...
Sanne Cant wins Heusden-Zolder round of Cyclocross World Cup
Belgian Champion Sanne Cant took her second UCI World Cup win of the season in Heusden-Zolder yesterday and takes back the white World Cup leader’s jersey from eighth-placed Eva Lechner (Team Colnago SudTirol). Following a re-start due to technical problems, Lechner was the initial leader of the race before Ellen Van Loy (Belgium) took over with Cant stuck to...
Mathieu van der Poel takes World Cup win in Namur (VIDEO)
The fourth round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Namur, Belgium took place today and 20 year-old World champion Mathieu van der Poel (BKCP-Corendon) triumphed after a tough battle with Wout Van Aert (Vastgoedservice-Golden Palace) in the Elite Men's race. The race took place on a challenging course on the slopes of the citadel at Namur. Van Aert, Van...
Nikki Harris takes her first World Cup win at Namur (VIDEO)
British rider Nikki Harris (Telenet-Fidea) took her first ever World Cup win today in Namur, Belgium after a long solo ride. She won ahead of Caroline Mani (France), and Eva Lechner (Team Colnago SudTirol). On the opening lap, Lechner took the lead, but Harris soon took over and went clear alone. After two laps, she had a lead of 20...
Great sportsmanship shown by Spanish cyclo-cross rider
There was a great display of sportsmanship at a recent cyclo-cross race in Spain, where one of the riders gave up a chance of a podium place as he didn't feel he deserved it. Ismael Esteban was leading the race in Puente Viesgo in Cantabria but inside the final kilometre, he punctured and had to dismount. As he ran towards...
Mathieu van der Poel celebrates à la Museeuw
Mathieu van der Poel (BKCP-Powerplus) took his first win of the season yesterday at Vlaamse Druivencross Overijse and to mark his comeback from injury, as he crossed the line he pointed at his left knee which he required surgery on. The move was a nod to Johan Museeuw, the multiple classics winner who did the same thing as he crossed...
Remembering Eric de Vlaeminck’s World Championship wins (VIDEO)
Eric de Vlaeminck sadly passed yesterday at the age of 70 after battling a long illness. The Belgian held the record for most World Cyclocross titles with a remarkable seven wins. He took the title in 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973. It's difficult to comprehend now, but before his first win in 1966, a Belgian rider had...
Former World Cyclocross champion Eric de Vlaeminck passes away
Former World Cyclocross champion Eric de Vlaeminck has passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. De Vlaeminck held the record for having won the Cyclo Cross World Championships seven times (in 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973). He missed winning in 1967 only because his bike was damaged during the race. On the road, he...
Zdenek Stybar’s €10,000 appearance fee is higher than that of Sven Nys
At the weekend, former World Cyclocross Champion Zdenek Stybar confirmed that he would be taking part in a handful of cyclocross races over the winter and it seems that his appearance fee is the highest for any rider. The former World Champion was speaking at the “Boonen and Friends” event. “I will decide this week which crosses I’m racing," he...
Sven Nys ensuring his legacy lives on after retirement
Check out these short clips of Sven Nys and his Son Thibau warming up at Hassalt. View post on imgur.com Sven Nys and his Son Thibau warming up at Hassalt
Sean De Bie wins star-studded Boonen and Friends cyclocross
Sean De Bie (Lotto-Soudal) took the win in the Boonen and Friends charity cyclo-cross today at Zilvermeer in Tom Boonen's home town of Mol in Belgium. The event consisted of two races - Boonen & Friends and Kampioencross. The startlist for the Kampioencross included ex professionals such as Bart Wellens, Fons de Wolf, Niels Albert and Tom Steels. The Boonen and...
32,000 tickets already sold for Cyclocross World Championships
32,000 tickets for the Cyclocross World Championships in in Heusden-Zolder have already been sold, two months before the event takes place. The championships will take place on the 30th and 31st of January and will be the first Worlds to take place in Belgium since 2012 when they took place in Koksijde. 60,000 visitors attended that year, but the organisers...
The Single-Speed Cyclo-Cross World Championships (VIDEO)
The Single-Speed Cyclo-Cross World Championships took place at the weekend in Victoria, Canada and it's a little bit different to the action seen in Belgium at Hasselt and Koksijde in the past few days. The organisers describe the race as follows: "SSCXWC is not merely a race, it’s a weekend of events and ridiculousness dedicated solely to those who ride...