Super prestige Merksplas
15:10 Merksplas
An entire match in the shadow of the leading players and then a scorching outcome in the final round. For example, Laurens Sweeck has mastered the Superprestigecross in Merksplas. No one had an answer to the sand king’s quick final lap. Toon Aerts is second, Lars van der Haar completes the podium.
What a week for Laurens Sweeck.
After a solo slim in Niel, he (out of necessity) opted for a different tactic today in Merksplas. Because it was a flying meeting on a very fast course.
The biggest proof of this: after half an hour there were still about 15 riders together. Michael Vanthourenhout and Eli Iserbyt tried to play the team game. Iserbyt cut Aerts off a bit and then decided to get off.
Vanthourenhout was thus given a gap, but he was grabbed by the shoulders again by Thibau Nys and Aerts.
With 8 more contenders they entered the final round and there Laurens Sweeck would release his demons. With a scorching attack, he didn’t even wait for the sandbox. He immediately had a nice gap and would see it through to the finish.
Toon Aerts and Thibau Nys tried, but were unable to get to his wheel. Aerts came 2nd. Nys even let teammate Van der Haar take the last podium spot to gain an extra point in the rankings. The Dutchman is also joint leader in the rankings.
Laurens Sweeck: “I didn’t hesitate”
For Laurens Sweeck it is his 2nd victory of the week. “I can now say that I have always done the right thing and that the winner is always right, but it all worked out just fine. I didn’t have the legs to command my place at the front for the entire race.”
“But I found some breathing space at the right time to make the move forward. Then it was important to hold position in the last lap and try to mount an attack in the last half and hope that no one would be left.” .”
“I had a pretty good track on the right when I attacked and didn’t have the impression that anyone was driving there during the race. And if it went fast, I knew it would be difficult to pass me.”
“I didn’t have the impression that a difference could be made in the sandbox, because everyone went through it quickly. But I just had to be in position, I felt that Michael had already started his attack, Toon too. Those 2 ceilinged just when I attacked, so I didn’t hesitate.”
Other comments:
Toon Aerts (2nd): “There is a satisfied feeling today, even if it is double. – which was very difficult in previous weeks – today I was able to race at the front from round 2 and actually took control of the race. I am proud of that.”
“The last round it comes down to a few percentage points and maybe a little more fighting spirit, but by racing like today that will happen. Maybe I just had too little confidence, I knew I had to go where Laurens went. If I was in his wheel, then I might have been able to follow. But now I still had to pass Michael and I could no longer close that gap.”
Lars van der Haar (3rd): “I was unlucky at the start, my pants got stuck behind my saddle. So I was immediately very far behind and during the first half I was not in the race at all. In the end I got through it and I also dared to cross the That was the moment of rest for me to get back into the game.”
“I was no longer able to get myself into position to compete for the win, but Laurens did and that is very good. In the end I received a present from Thibau and that is very nice. We had said in advance that in an unimportant place that was possible, but that wasn’t necessary for a podium. But apparently Thibau still thought it was worth giving it to me. It’s nice that I’m now in the lead both here and in the X2O Trophy, but we’ll see where we go after the Christmas period to stand.”
Thibau Nys (4th): “I am very satisfied with the feeling, but not with the race because I am very angry with myself for going into that last lap so passively. It was a course where it is difficult to make a difference and in the last lap I was constantly worried I felt like I had the legs to explode and win the cross. But due to both the bumps and being too lax in the final, I am not in the position where I should be, what Laurens does is a textbook example of how it should be done. But I did have the legs and then It’s a shame.”
“I think I tackled the race perfectly until the last half lap, I should have just been 1 or 2 places closer, because I still had the power to win. Then I pass Toon in front of the sandbox, but I miss that in the sand was my last move. Then there was another sprint, but I got caught behind Toon’s wheel in the last corner and then I was happy that I could give Lars a point. The feeling is very good, it’s just that a pity to have good legs losing cross in the last lap, that’s not my habit and that hurts.
Related:
Result Superprestige Merksplas
| name | result | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laurens Sweeck | 1h01’04” |
| 2 |  Toon Aerts | z.t. |
| 3 | Lars van der Haar | + 4″ |
| 4 | Thibau Nys | +4″ |
| 5 | Michael Vanthourenhout | + 4″ |
| 6 | Niels Vandeputte | + 6″ |
| 7 | That is, Iserby | + 9″ |
| 8 | Felipe Orts | + 14″ |
| 9 | Joran Wyseure | + 22″ |
| 10 | Girl Michels | + 29″ |
Sweeck wins!
After Niel, Laurens Sweeck now also wins in Merksplas after a thrilling final. Aerts comes second and Van der Haar 3rd. Nys seems to give him the podium spot for a point in the rankings.
Nys tries to get past Aerts, but that doesn’t work. Aerts almost reaches Sweeck, but the gap seems just too big.
Sweeck doesn’t even wait for the sandbox. He gives it a firm slap. Nys and Aerts are still trying to come back.
Sweeck passes Aerts and Vanthourenhout. Can he go to the sandbox first?
Michael Vanthourenhout squeezes past Aerts and immediately accelerates. He puts Aerts a few meters away. Behind Aerts, Sweeck and Nys wait patiently.
Vanthourenhout, Aerts, Sweeck, Nys, Iserbyt, Van der Haar, Vandeputte and Orts. Those are still the contenders.
Last round
We enter the final round with 8 more contenders. Who will win in Merksplas?
We haven’t mentioned his name for a while, but Laurens Sweeck is also still in the leading group. Does he change gears on the last lap before they drive to the sandbox for the last time?
Toon Aerts continues to increase the pressure up front. Michael Vanthourenhout and Thibau Nys are still in his wheel.
Toon Aerts moves to the front. But there are still no major gaps. It will be an exciting final.
Nys tries to close the gap on Vanthourenhout and in the sandbox he almost closes the gap with Aerts on his wheel. Iserbyt and Van der Haar follow a little further.
Iserbyt drops the gap
Iserbyt passes Aerts and then gets off in a difficult passage. Leader Vanthourenhout likes to see team play happen.
The situation is fixed for a while. You have to wait for an acceleration or a mistake that can make a difference. Or are they all waiting for the final round?
After half an hour, Lars van der Haar joins the race. He immediately moves forward.
Michels, Wyseure, Kuhn and Van der Haar are also not far away. Do they also still make the connection?
The accordion closes again. Nys, Vandeputte, Iserbyt and Sweeck join us.
When turning onto the finish line, Orts accelerates again. He doesn’t want to slow down at all.
Vanthourenhout has taken over the lead from Orts, together with Aerts they form the leading trio.
Behind them, Vandeputte and Nys try to cross. Iserbyt and Michels follow them closely.
Super prestige
