“I’m angry with myself for riding so passively on the last lap.” Thibau Nys was visibly disappointed in himself on Saturday after the Strawberry Cross in Merksplas. The goal seemed clear: to drive a sharp last lap today. Did he succeed?
Iserbyt slipper
The pace was extremely high in the initial phase, so no one could take more than a bike length lead. Only in round two did the first holes become visible. On the famous bump after the second material station, things did not go smoothly for everyone. Niels Vandeputte and Felipe Orts were in command, but saw Michael Vanthourenhout take over the lead at the front.
Eli Iserbyt was determined to win his first classification race of the year, but the Belgian champion briefly slipped away on a small hill. It caused a split in the peloton. The three aforementioned gentlemen took advantage of the situation, and Thibau Nys was also good at the front. The lead quickly reached fifteen seconds, was the winner already at the front?
Sly Felipe Orts
Lars van der Haar did his utmost in the pursuit, but they did not get much closer to the four at the front. While Iserbyt fell again off-screen, Nys made his ambitions very clear. He increased the pace and put a lot of pressure on his companions.
When the four leaders all passed by the material station, Van der Haar – leader in the X²O classification and indeed the unfortunate Iserbyt – could join at the front. While the rest started to look at each other, Orts rushed off on the asphalt.
Finally a prize for Vandeputte
Nys responded immediately. The European champion absolutely could not be surprised again today. It took a while, but after two rounds he connected again. Vandeputte and Iserbyt were also able to close the gap, and the latter took over the lead position himself.
With two rounds to go, any scenario still seemed possible. The Belgian champion remained determinedly in the lead, and even took a bit of a lead, but after a fall on the stairs, that lead disappeared. The five of them entered the final lap, and the chance of a sprint increased by the minute.
But Niels Vandeputte didn’t want it to get that far. With an enormous burst of force he rushed everyone out of the wheel. Iserbyt tried again, but the bird had started to fly. Nys had a serious fall in the background. He crossed the finish line badly damaged.
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Van der Haar remains leader
Lars van der Haar finished fifth in 25 seconds, which was just enough to remain leader in the Trophy. He only has a two second lead over Iserbyt. Toon Aerts, sixth in Hamme at 47 seconds, is third at 1:57. After his heavy fall, Thibau Nys only crossed the line in fourteenth place and dropped from three to five (at 2:47).
Niels Vandeputte: “Means a lot to me”
After a disappointing sixth place at the Superprestige in Merksplas, Vandeputte was finally able to crown his strong start to the season with a nice victory. “It is very rewarding. Especially after yesterday, after which I had feelings of revenge. Winning in such a way is nice,” said a satisfied Vandeputte.
After a fall on the stairs, Iserbyt lost his lead, in the last lap Vandeputte took the victory with an enormous burst of power. “I usually have a good final lap in my legs, starting the last lap in second was perfect. At the end I had the most strength left, it was a good combination of strength and technique.”
Vandeputte has already finished in the top four ten times for the Flandriencross this season. Now he has finally taken that first victory. “This victory means a lot to me. I am growing year after year. I had a very good summer and it shows that I have become stronger than last season. I am now also showing this with this victory,” said Vandeputte.
