GP Sven Nys Cyclocross podium history | 2022 edition | 2024 edition | Course map
Weather at Baal at 2:00 PM, local time: 14C (57F), mostly cloudy, with the wind from the southwest at 18 km/hr (11 mph). There is a 24% chance of rain, increasing to 77% at 5:00.
Eli Iserbyt takes a solo win in Baal
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The race: Here's the report from 3rd-place Tom Pidcock's Team INEOS Grenadiers
The traditional January 1st race saw Pidcock take the lead on the second lap and look to manage his advantage to chasing duo Michael Vanthourenhout and Eli Iserbyt.
The team-mates were held at around 10 seconds but Pidcock lost control on the fast jump section on the final lap. Despite remounting after his crash the Brit was quickly caught and was unable to hold off his rivals, with Iserbyt pushing clear to take the win.
Pidcock would eventually cross the line 1:02 back, showing real grit to maintain a podium finish. His next scheduled race quickly arrives with round four of the series on Tuesday in Herentals.Baal also saw the Grenadiers debut of Thymen Arensman. The new Dutch signing has big targets on the road this season and used the race as a hard training session in front of the Belgian crowds. Pauline Ferrand-Prevot had been scheduled to race in the women’s event but was unable to start due to illness.
Tom Pidcock:
"I'm a little bit shaken. It was a bit of a stupid crash. I hope it was on TV at least!
"I went down the same as every other lap. I wasn't feeling very good today but I wanted to try and make a fast last lap. I was trying to go a little bit faster everywhere but obviously this was a dangerous section so it's not the best idea.
"When you're going that fast sometimes it's easier just to jump than stay on the floor but I wasn't being stupid or anything. I tried [to come back]. It wasn't bad but my leg is pretty bruised now. We'll see. I'll see how it is later."
Complete results:
1 | Eli Iserbyt | PAUWELS SAUZEN-BINGOAL | 1hr 0min 35sec |
2 | Michael Vanthourenhout | PAUWELS SAUZEN-BINGOAL | @ 11sec |
3 | Tom Pidcock | INEOS GRENADIERS | 1:02 |
4 | Lars Van Der Haar | BALOISE TREK LIONS | 1:08 |
5 | Jens Adams | CHOCOVIT CYCLING TEAM | 1:56 |
6 | Joris Nieuwenhuis | BALOISE TREK LIONS | 2:01 |
7 | Quinten Hermans | ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK | 2:21 |
8 | Cameron Mason | TRINITY RACING CROSS | 2:29 |
9 | Pim Ronhaar | BALOISE TREK LIONS | 2:55 |
10 | Timo Kielich | CRELAN-FRISTADS | 3:35 |
11 | Thomas Mein | HOPE FACTORY RACING | 3:49 |
12 | Felipe Orts Lloret | TEIKA-BH-GSPORT | 4:12 |
13 | Thijs Aerts | TORMANS CYCLO CROSS TEAM | 4:45 |
14 | Lander Loockx | DESCHACHT-HENS-MAES | 4:47 |
15 | Michael Boros | CREDISHOP-FRISTADS | 5:19 |
16 | David Menut | AS BIKE RACING | 5:26 |
17 | Curtis White | CANNONDALE-CYCLOCROSSWORLD | 5:51 |
18 | Corné Van Kessel | DESCHACHT-HENS-MAES | 6:11 |
19 | Zdenek Stybar | SOUDAL-QUICK STEP | 6:55 |
20 | Yentl Bekaert | BALOISE TREK LIONS | 7:17 |
21 | Sander De Vet | BASSO TEAM FLANDERS | 7:35 |
22 | Seppe Rombouts | RB ZELFBOUW UCT | 7:36 |
23 | Robin Alderweireld | TEAM ATOM 6 | @ 1 lap |
24 | Thymen Arensman | NETHERLANDS | 2 laps |
25 | Ryan Cortjens | ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK | 2 laps |
26 | Dolf Pemen | PROXIMUS-ALPHAMOTORHOMES | 2 laps |
27 | Mario Junquera San Millan | UNICAJA BANCO-GIJON | 2 laps |
28 | Caleb Swartz | GIANT-NEFF CYCLE SERVICE | 2 laps |
29 | Cyprien Gilles | UC ALENCON DAMIGNY | 3 laps |
30 | Andrew Dillman | IGNITION-RIGD-LEITNER | 3 laps |
31 | Michael Gassner | RSV MOOSBURG | 3 laps |
32 | Yan Gras | PODIOCOM CX | 3 laps |
33 | Thibault Daniel | TEAM FIMA-RDV BIKESHOP ALIAN | 3 laps |
34 | Jonathan Anderson | USA | 3 laps |
35 | Grégory Careme | GC CYCLING TEAM | 3 laps |
36 | Brannan Fix | USA | 3 laps |
37 | Ben Frederick | SMALL MONSTERS-RITCHEY-ORNOT | 3 laps |
38 | Philipp Heigl | SU BIKESTORE | 4 laps |
39 | William Weatherill | HOPE FACTORY RACING | 4 laps |
40 | Alexander James | SNEL CYCLOCROSS TEAM | 4 laps |
41 | Francisco Javier Torres | SPAIN | 4 laps |
42 | Frederick Junge | BROOM WAGON WORKS | 4 laps |
43 | Arnau Pericas Figueras | VIC-ETB CLUB NATACIO | 4 laps |
44 | Julian Gebele | RSC KEMPTOM | 4 laps |
45 | Giorgio Coppola | FOUR4TH | 4 laps |
46 | Tetsuki Kaji | JAPAN PHOTO FINISHE3 | 4 laps |
47 | Matthew Graham-O'Regan | NICE BIKES | 5 laps |
48 | Gauthier Heymes | CC SARREBOURGEOIS | 5 laps |
49 | Fletcher Adams | UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH | 5 laps |
50 | Felipe Nystrom Spencer | CRC | 5 laps |
51 | Greg Bruynseels | CK DUKLA BRATISLAVA | 5 laps |
Fem van Empel wins in the colors of her new Jumbo-Visma team.
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The race: Here's the report from van Empel's Jumbo-Visma team.
A triumph in the X2O Trophy of Baal has given Fem van Empel the perfect start to her career with Team Jumbo-Visma. On New Year's Day, the Dutch rider launched an early attack and maintained the lead.
Before the start, Van Empel, who was wearing the jersey of the European champion, expressed her happiness at riding the first cross for the yellow-and-black brigade. "I had been looking forward to riding with this top team for a long time”, she said.
Van Empel never faced any threat to her significant lead despite the pursuit's frantic efforts. The passages on and around the steep Balenberg were right up her alley. She navigated the challenging, winding course in style.
"Above all, I enjoyed myself”, the 20-year-old said immediately after her superior victory. "Whenever I take a break, I have to jump right back in. I would have preferred to battle with someone to get more sharpness, but I had to make it entertaining myself. I was a little nervous, but I never had to give my all. For the upcoming races, this triumph does boost confidence."
Despite being able to pursue the overall victory in the X2O Bathrooms Trophy, Van Empel must make decisions: "I can't compete in all the races since I'm still young. "I'm still young, so I can't do all the races. The focus is mainly on the World Cup standings. I will, of course, enter the road season in addition to that. Considering my lack of experience, I don't yet have serious goals in that area. Time will tell. Of course, I'm looking forward to it."
For the Dutchwoman, it is her first win on behalf of Team Jumbo-Visma. Van Empel had previously won 10 races this cross-season.
Complete results:
1 | Fem Van Empel | JUMBO-VISMA | 50min 48sec |
2 | Lucinda Brand | BALOISE TREK LIONS | @ 2min 0sec |
3 | Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado | ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK | 2:27 |
4 | Denise Betsema | PAUWELS SAUZEN-BINGOAL | 3:12 |
5 | Marion Norbert Riberolle | CRELAN-FRISTADS | 3:20 |
6 | Clara Honsinger | EF EDUCATION-TIBCO-SVB | 3:36 |
7 | Aniek Van Alphen | 777 | 3:42 |
8 | Zoe Backstedt | EF EDUCATION-TIBCO-SVB | 4:54 |
9 | Maghalie Rochette | SPECIALIZED-FEEDBACK SPORTS | 5:45 |
10 | Madigan Munro | TREK FACTORY RACING CX | 6:26 |
11 | Sidney Mcgill | PEDALHEAD RACE ROOM | 7:30 |
12 | Austin Killips | NICE BIKES | s.t. |
13 | Millie Couzens | CRELAN-FRISTADS | 7:50 |
14 | Julie Brouwers | DE CEUSTER-BONACHE | 8:13 |
15 | Annie Last | GREAT BRITAIN | 8:23 |
16 | Raylyn Nuss | STEVE TILFORD FOUNDATION | 8:32 |
17 | Jana Dobbelaere | BELGIUM | 9:23 |
18 | Caitlin Bernstein | NICE BIKES | 9:32 |
19 | Anna Megale | TREK CYCLOCROSS COLLECTIVE | 9:37 |
20 | Lizzy Gunsalus | USA CYCLING MUDFUND | 9:38 |
21 | Barbora Jerabkova | BRILON RACING TEAM MB | 9:42 |
22 | Xan Crees | SPECTRA WIGGLE-VITUS | 10:18 |
23 | Letizia Borghesi | AROMITALIA-BASSO BIKE-VAIANO | 10:28 |
24 | Ellen Van Loy | DE CEUSTER-BONACHE | @ 1 lap |
25 | Kiona Crabbé | PROXIMUS-ALPHAMOTORHOMES | 1 lap |
26 | Fauve Bastiaenssen | PISSEI - GROEP T.O.M. | 1 lap |
27 | Asia Zontone | ITALY | 1 lap |
28 | Kim Van De Steene | NEVER GIVE UP | 1 lap |
29 | Camille Devigne | MULTUM ACCOIUNTANTS | 1 lap |
30 | Katerina Hladiková | BRILON RACING TEAM MB | 1 lap |
31 | Emily Werner | USA | 1 lap |
32 | Keira Bond | BOULDER JUNIOR CYCLING | 1 lap |
33 | Kimberly Boven | AWV DE ZWALUWEN | 2 laps |
34 | Manon Briand | ARDENNES CROSS TEAM GECIBAT | 2 laps |
35 | Jenaya Francis | CYCLING CANADA | 2 laps |
36 | Lorena Wiebes | TEAM DSM | 2 laps |
37 | Giada Borghesi | LAPIERRE TRENTINO | 2 laps |
38 | Audrey De Keersmaeker | DE CEUSTER-BONACHE | 2 laps |
39 | Anne Knijnenburg | NETHERLANDS | 2 laps |
40 | Christiane Bilodeau | CYCLING CANADA | 2 laps |
41 | Lies'L Schevenels | DE CEUSTER-BONACHE | 2 laps |
42 | Siobhan Kelly | BLACK DOG RACING | 2 laps |
43 | Zoe Clay | VELOCIOUS SPORT | 2 laps |
44 | Gwennig Le Dantec | ROUE D'OR CONFLANAISE | 2 laps |
45 | Maria Larkin | DONKEY LABEL RACING | 2 laps |
46 | Emily De Cuyper | ASD WOMEN CYCLING | 2 laps |
47 | Juline Delcommune | WILINK BRUSSELS CYCLING | 2 laps |
48 | Malgorzata Mazurek | UKS KRUPINSKI SUSZEC KONWA | 2 laps |
49 | Giorgia Secchi | TECHNOBIKE ASD | 3 laps |
50 | Aurélie Vermeir | INDIVIDUAL | 3 lap |
Course map: