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2025 GP Sven Nys Cyclocross (C-1)
Baal, Belgium

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

GP Sven Nys Cyclocross podium history | 2024 edition | Course map

Complete results: Men | Women

Weather at the race city of Baal at 2:10 PM, local time: 8C (47F), cloudy, with the wind from the southwest at 35 km/hr (22 mph). There is a 4% chance of rain, rising to 50% at 6:00 PM.

Men:

Eli Iserbyt solos across the line.

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

Eli Iserbyt has started the year 2025 well. After some difficult weeks due to a lingering injury, he was able to seize power in Baal. He fought a three-way battle with Pim Ronhaar and Emiel Verstrynge. Only in the last lap was he certain of his victory on the Balenberg. Toon Aerts finished fourth and local hero Thibau Nys finished in fifth place.

Mathieu van der Poel dropped out, which opened up the race in Baal. Thibau Nys was also unable to distinguish himself in this home race. Due to a bad start, a crash and a problem with his shoe, he was unable to reach the front. In the final stages of the race, he fell back and finished in fifth place.

Daan Soete had the best start in this round of the X2O Badkamers Trophy. Pim Ronhaar and Emiel Verstrynge quickly took over the command. They put pressure on the rest of the peloton, especially around the Balenberg.

Eli Iserbyt was the only one who could still react. Halfway through the race he joined the duo. A leading group of three that would fight it out for the victory on this first day of the new year. Iserbyt did not hesitate long and took the initiative. On a steep hill he found the opportunity to make a difference. Ronhaar and Verstrynge could not follow him and had to get off, but Iserbyt kept riding.

In the penultimate lap his two fellow escapees gave up. Iserbyt kept riding strongly and won convincingly. It was his first victory since November 24. Ronhaar and Verstrynge completed the podium in second and third place respectively. Toon Aerts rode a regular race and fought his way to fourth place.

The Belgian champion is happy to be back. “It has been a long time since I was able to win. In the beginning I had to get into it a bit. We had also discussed beforehand to focus on the last half hour. At the end I could make the difference with a good acceleration, but I think Pim Ronhaar and Emiel Verstrynge also rode a very nice race. I am very happy that I can win here for the second time. It is also great for the new sponsor that we can take that first victory with us right away.”

Complete results:

Women:

This one was close. Fem van Empel just beats Lucinda Brand.

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The race: Here's the report from winner Fem van Empel's Team Visma | Lease a Bike.

Fem van Empel has won the X2O Badkamers Trofee race in Baal for the third year in a row. After a crash in the opening lap, the Brabant native had to chase for the entire race. In the ultimate finale, the world champion finally managed to pass Lucinda Brand.

Traditionally, the GP Sven Nys in Baal is on the calendar on New Year's Day. Van Empel started the first race of 2025 alertly, but after a small crash on the opening lap, the world champion had to chase Brand and Puck Pieterse. 

In the subsequent laps, Van Empel systematically worked her way to the front. On the penultimate lap, the world champion passed Pieterse. Only in the ultimate closing stages, the 22-year-old Dutchwoman managed to close the gap to Brand. Van Empel eventually beat her compatriot after an exciting sprint. 

“This was one of the most beautiful duels I rode”, Van Empel said afterwards. “During the first lap, I had a small slip after choosing the wrong track. I tried to stay calm, but at that point the belief in a win was rather small. At one point I trailed by half a minute, but I kept fighting for it.” 

“I noticed that I got closer and closer to Brand in the final lap”, Van Empel continued. “I was able to close the gap after the bars, which made me fully believe in the victory again. After that it was all out until the finish line. I'm very happy to have won the first race of the new year.”

Complete results:

Course map: