Toon Aerts with tears in his eyes after a painful ending that cost him victory: “I’m going to curse about this a few more times”

From heaven to hell. On Sunday afternoon, Toon Aerts was close to his first cyclo-cross victory since February 2022, but things went wrong on the very last diagonal side. Aerts fell, Vanthourenhout went on to win. “I may have gone a little too deep,” he cursed afterwards.

As if it had to be this way. Right in front of his own fans, Toon Aerts crashed into a post in the final round. Michael Vanthourenhout took advantage and was able to steal the victory from Aerts so deep in the final.

Not just any victory, because for the unlucky man of the day it would have been the first victory since February 6, 2022 – and since his return after that long doping suspension.

The disappointment was clearly visible on Aerts’ face. “I made a mistake at the beginning of the match, but it was corrected towards the end,” he said.

“At that moment it was just all-in. But I may have gone a little too deep. That’s how I ended up on the wrong track and hit that post. However, I knew that there was a good chance that I would win if I could turn the cobblestones first.”

“But anyway, we know that the diagonal side is part of the course. It is something that is part of it. If the cross is decided there, that is a mistake that suits Namur, certainly?”

I saw Michael switch and maybe I should have done that too.

Toon Aerts

In addition to fatigue, Aerts saw another factor that played a role. “We made the tactical decision not to change the bike. This way I finally closed the gap with the leaders.”

Even after that, Aerts chose not to stop. “But I finished the last lap with a dirty bike. I saw Michael change and maybe I should have done that too. I took the risk to continue and that may not have been ideal. The bike is heavier.”

The fact that he felt really strong today makes the pill even more bitter. “I was the fastest uphill,” Aerts said. “But technically Michael was a little better.”

“I would have liked to win Namur and it was possible. Over the past two years I had to watch the editions on TV, which hurt. Today the chance was there, but it didn’t work out again. I’m going to go for another one today. cursed a few times.”