Niels Vandeputte Secures Thrilling Victory at Flandriencross Cyclocross Event
November 26, 2022
In a captivating finale, Niels Vandeputte of Alpecin-Decueninck emerged victorious at the Hamme round of the prestigious X2O Trofee cyclocross series, outmaneuvering Belgian champion Eli Iserbyt of Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal in a thrilling final lap battle.
The Intense Battle for Victory
After a dramatic crash, Iserbyt skillfully fought his way back into contention, eventually dictating the pace at the front of a five-rider lead group with less than three laps remaining. The lead group comprised:
- Vandeputte
- Spanish champion Felipe Orts of La Vila Joiosa-Neteo
- European champion Thibau Nys of Baloise Trek Lions
- European champion Michael Vanthourenhout of Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal
On the narrow and technical East Flanders course, passing opportunities were limited, making Vandeputte’s overtaking maneuver on Iserbyt all the more impressive. The Belgian rider held on to claim the Flandriencross title, marking the biggest win of his career to date.
Vandeputte’s Reaction to His Triumph
When asked about his triumph, Vandeputte expressed his gratitude, stating:
“It means a lot. I’ve been riding very well this season. I’ve been in the top four for every race, apart from yesterday. So to finally take the big win in the big race, it means a lot. It means a lot for me, but also for the people that work with me, that believe in me, and it’s my way to say thank you to every one of them who helped me to achieve this.”
The Key to Victory
Vandeputte credited his technical skills and power for securing the win, saying:
“I think technically, I rode a very good race, and in the end, I just had the most power left. To say I’m the strongest, it’s hard to say it was a mix between strength and technique today, and I think I had the right combination of both.”
Final Results
- Orts finished in third place
- Nys, who crashed hard in the final lap, ultimately finished 14th, 1:59 behind the winner
- Van der Haar finished in fifth place, 25 seconds behind the winner, but maintained his lead in the X2O Trofee series with a narrow 2-second advantage over Iserbyt
Results powered by FirstCycling
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