On this New Year's Day, there is no respite for cyclo-cross runners. The plowed specialists met near Baal in Belgium to compete in the GP Sven Nys and the 5th round of X²O Bathrooms Trophy. The king Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) having withdrawn at the last minute, we logically witnessed a more open and contested race than expected between the rest of the contenders for victory, the latter obviously not wanting to miss this rare opportunity to raise their arms in the absence of the Dutch world champion. And sOn this ultra-demanding Belgian course, it is That is, Iserby who was the best of ordinary mortals this Wednesday!
Video – Eli Iserbyt had not won since Antwerp at the end of November
Eli Iserbyt makes the break in the overall standings of the X2O Trophy
Starting cautiously, the runner of the Pauwels Sauces – Cibel Clémentines started from the 3rd lap of the seven laps on the program to, initially, make the connection with a leading duo composed of Pim Ronhaar (Baloise Glowi Lions) andEmiel Verstrynge (Crelan-Corendon). Once back at mid-race, the Belgian champion gradually accelerated and little by little imposed his superiority to irremediably distance his two rivals. Above the rest, That is, Iserby then went it alone towards his 4th victory of the winter, his first since his success in Antwerp in World Cup until November.
After a complicated holiday period with no top 10 in the three races, Pim Ronhaar finds his way back to the podium and takes an encouraging 2nd place, 25 seconds behind the Belgian. Very good performance also for Emiel Verstryngeauthor of his second podium of the winter at 34 seconds. The top 5 is completed by two other Belgian riders, Toon Aerts (Deschacht – Hens – FSP) et Thybau Nys (Baloise Glowi Lions). Taking advantage of the absences of Lars van der Haar (Baloise Glowi Lions) and Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauces – Cibel Clémentines), his two rivals in the general classification, Izerbyt take advantage of this victory to further establish its domination over the X²O Bathrooms Trophywith 3'36″ of margin on Toon Aerts.
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