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2023 Exactcross Loenhout-Azencross (C-1),
Loenhout, Belgium

Friday, December 29, 2023

Azencross-Loenhout podium history | 2022 edition | 2024 edition | Course map

Complete results: Men | Women

Weather at Loenhout at 1:20 PM, local time: 11C (51F), rain, with the wind from the southwest at 19 km/hr (12 mph). The rain is forecast to continue through 6:00 PM.

Men:

A muddy Mathieu van der Poel has won again. Race organizer's photo

Bill and Carol McGann's book The Story of the Giro d'Italia, A Year-by-Year History of the Tour of Italy, Vol 1: 1909 - 1970 is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

The race: Here is a machine-translation of the race organizer's report.

The public is always partying in Loenhout, but world champion Mathieu Van der Poel was also able to celebrate once again today. In this mud cross he raced to his sixth victory of the season in just two weeks. Gianni Vermeersch and the Spaniard Felipe Orts were able to keep Ryan Kamp off the podium in the Azencross.

After a somewhat marred start with a fall and massive delays, we were able to get started. Without Florian Vermeersch, he landed on his elbow and had to give up in the first meters. Swiss champion Timon Rüegg, who started strongly, took the initiative during the first laps and immediately created a separation. Together with the Dutch Mathieu Van der Poel and Ryan Kamp, he was able to form the first leading group.

A strong recovery from Gianni Vermeersch closed the gap to the three escapees with the Spanish champion Felipe Orts in his wake. The leading group of five riders held out until half-cross, when Van der Poel thought it was enough. He seriously shook the tree and put the Ace Cross into a final fold.

For second and third place we had an exciting battle between Felipe Orts, Ryan Kamp and Gianni Vermeersch. When entering the last round we saw Orts and Vermeersch distance themselves from Kamp. The latter did not give up and came back again in the last lap. The three of them, close together, turned onto the final straight line. Vermeersch came out on top in this sprint ahead of Felipe Orts and Ryan Kamp.

“I didn't necessarily have a section in mind where I wanted to ride away, but the group remained a bit large and I wanted to thin out a bit. You have much less control in the wheel and it is more difficult to see where you are driving. I'm happy that I could do my own thing just at the front," said the world champion.

His teammate Gianni Vermeersch was allowed on the podium after a recovery. “I didn't expect to claim the podium in cross-country. I have completed some more specific cross-training with the team and that is paying off.”

An emotional Felipe Orts was allowed on stage after the death of his uncle yesterday. “I am happy that I was able to compete for the podium in this tough cross and I want to dedicate it to my family.”

The audience once again enjoyed a fantastic Exact Cross in Azencross with the world champion as the winner. While he rested for tomorrow's World Cup in Hulst, the party continued for a while in Loenhout.

Complete results:

Women:

Sanne Cant can sit up and enjoy her win. Race organizer's photo.

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The race: Here's a machine-translation of the race organizer's report.

Belgian champion Sanne Cant could finally make the victory salute in the Azencross. In a tough match she was not given a chance against strong Kristyna Zemanova and Manon Bakker. In the final laps she was able to build up a nice difference. She thus put her name on the honors list in Loenhout for the fifth time.

At the start things were not immediately clear and we had to look for our favorites in the wide field of participants. The three riders who had been put forward were soon able to distinguish themselves from the rest on the demanding course. Crelan – Corendon teammates Sanne Cant and Manon Bakker were joined by the Czech Kristyna Zemanova.

The Dutch racer Bakker, who recently won the World Cup in Val di Sole, took the initiative for a while, but she was unable to keep her competitors at bay and even had to be the first to let go the leader’s role when Cant took command. A lap later on the same mud strip, Zemanova also had to suffer. Cant soloed to victory and was clearly emotional that she could once again make the victory gesture. Excluding the BC, that was two years and two months ago.

“I really wanted to win, but I was also one of the only ones who was at the start for the third day in a row. So I had some doubts at the start, because it was quite late last night. I am very happy that I was able to do my own thing and finish it," said a very satisfied winner.

Once again a beautiful and exciting competition in the Rectavit Ladies Cross, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the large audience in Loenhout.

Complete Results:

Course map: