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2024 GP Sven Nys Cyclocross (C-1)
Baal, Belgium

Monday, January 1, 2024

GP Sven Nys Cyclocross podium history | 2023 edition | Course map

Complete results: Men | Women

Weather at the race city of Baal at 1:40 PM, local time: 8C (47F), partly cloudy, with the wind from the southwest at 24 km/hr (15 mph). There is a 2% chance of rain, growing to 45% at 6:00 PM.

Men:

Race winner Mathieu van der Poel left the very fine Wout van Aert almost two minutes behind. Photo: Belga

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

Even in the mud, there is currently nothing that can be done about Mathieu van der Poel. The world champion said goodbye to the opposition in Baal in the second round and rode solidly to victory. Wout van Aert and Pim Ronhaar flanked the Dutchman on the podium.

The announced match between Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel already took shape from the start. The two eternal rivals sped away, while Tom Pidcock ended up in the chasing far back. Yet someone was still able to join the leaders: Pim Ronhaar fought to follow the two top players. Behind him, Thibau Nys also visibly had a better day in his own backyard.

During the second ascent of the Balenberg, Van der Poel went crazy. At the next passage at the finish he already had a lead of 10 seconds. Pidcock appeared behind Ronhaar, accompanied by Michael Vanthourenhout. Nys and Van der Haar followed almost a minute later.

One man show
It quickly became clear that Van der Poel was signing up for a new one-man show. Behind him, Van Aert and Ronhaar came together for a while, although the Belgian was eventually able to distance himself again. The balance of forces was clear in this way. Van der Haar went solo on his way to fourth place, Vanthourenhout and Nys took up the battle for the last spot in the top 5.

Van der Poel was able to drive to the finish in cruise control, where he cleaned his jersey and greeted the people. Van Aert followed just under 2 minutes, Ronhaar crossed the line just under a minute later. Van der Haar strengthens his leading position in the rankings with fourth place, while Vanthourenhout overtook Nys in the duel for fifth place.

Complete results:

Women:

Fem van Empel starts the year off with a win. Photo: Belga

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

In Baal, Fem van Empel has won 4 out of 4 in the X²O Badkammres Trophy. Once again she had to deal with a tough Lucinda Brand, until she was able to make the difference in the final round while running. 18-year-old Ava Holmgren finished third.
World champion Fem van Empel immediately took command, but soon saw Lucinda Brand take over. It immediately became clear that the victory would be between the two Dutch ladies. The chase was led by Anna Kay for Sanne Cant and the very young Imogen Wolff. Clara Honsinger, Denise Betsema and Ava Holmgren joined the battle for the final podium spot a little later.
Only after more than 11 minutes did the leaders pass the finish for the first time, the result of the tough conditions. Brand was clearly happy on the muddy course of her team boss Sven Nys, but Van Empel was able to close the first gaps while running. In the background, Betsema was knocked back by sliding in the mud. In this way Cant, Honsinger and Holmgren opened up a gap.

Fatigue struck the riders. Van Empel stumbled in the mud, Cant was just able to keep himself upright on the giant washboard. Yet nothing had been decided when Erwin Vervecken rang the bell for the final round. 18-year-old Ava Holmgren had opened a gap towards the final podium spot at a considerable distance from the leaders.
It was a razor-sharp duel for victory. Brand made a few slips and was unable to pass Van Empel downhill. She was then put under pressure by the world champion on a long running stretch. That turned out to be the decisive moment. Van Empel put the finishing touches on her after a few bad days. Holmgren was very happy with her podium finish. With Cant, Honsinger and the Swiss Alessandra Keller, three national champions just missed the podium.

Complete results:

Course map: