Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Overijse Cross podium history | 2023 edition | Course map
Weather at the race city of Overijse, Belgium at 1:15 PM, local time: 16C (60F), mostly cloudy, with the wind from the northwest at 5 km/hr (3 mph). There is a 2% chance of rain.
Thibau Nys wins.
Bill & Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, Vol 1: 1903 - 1975 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 organizer's race report:
The Druivencross in Overijse is also known as ‘The Mother of All Crosses’ and that was proven once again today. Thibau Nys (Baloise-Trek) came out on top after a tough duel with Belgian champion Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal). Lars van der Haar, teammate of Nys, completed the podium.
The riders shot out of the starting blocks very quickly and that was also noticeable in the course of the race. Until the end of the second lap, everything stayed together and the race seemed to be over. European champion Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) was the first to take the hare’s path and quickly cycled a gap together. A lap later, the gap was closed by an alert Thibau Nys (Baloise-Trek). In the fifth round we again had an extended leading group with Thibau Nys, Michael Vanthourenhout, Eli Iserbyt, David Haverdings (Baloise-Trek), Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Lars van der Haar and Jente Michels (Alpecin-Deceuninck).
With three laps to go we got an attack from Eli Iserbyt. The Belgian champion pulled hard, the young Nys was the only one who could follow. The two built up a small lead of 10 seconds on a chasing duo consisting of Niels Vandeputte and Lars van der Haar. The chasing duo was able to reduce the gap to 3 seconds before the riders started the last lap.
The last lap brought nothing but spectacle. Iserbyt pushed the pace up, hoping to create a gap. Once again it was Thibau Nys who jumped on the wheel of the defending champion and then decided to set the pace himself. The young Belgian was able to make the difference and thus achieved his first victory of the season.
In the general classification, Joran Wyseure (Crelan-Corendon) remains the leader with 26 points, ahead of Niels Vandeputte and Lars van der Haar.
Complete Results:
1 | Thibau Nys | Baloise Trek Lions | 57min 29sec |
2 | Eli Iserbyt | Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal | @ 2sec |
3 | Lars van der Haar | Baloise Trek Lions | 0:05 |
4 | Niels Vandeputte | Alpecin-Deceuninck | 0:18 |
5 | Joran Wyseure | Crelan-Corendon | 0:30 |
6 | Michael Vanthourenhout | Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal | 0:32 |
7 | Jente Michels | Alpecin-Deceuninck | 0:34 |
8 | Lander Loockx | TDT-Unibet | 0:40 |
9 | David Haverdings | Baloise Trek Lions | 0:41 |
10 | Felipe Orts Lloret | Ridley Racing Team | 0:52 |
11 | Kevin Kuhn | Charles Liégeois Roastery | 0:59 |
12 | Aaron Dockx | Crelan-Corendon | 1:00 |
13 | Toon Aerts | Deschacht-Hens-FSP | 1:19 |
14 | Kay De Bruyckere | Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal | 1:24 |
15 | Laurens Sweeck | Crelan-Corendon | 1:40 |
16 | Witse Meeussen | Crelan-Corendon | 1:43 |
17 | Emiel Verstrynge | Crelan-Corendon | 1:55 |
18 | Toon Vandebosch | Crelan-Corendon | 1:58 |
19 | Jens Adams | Lotto-X-Oats Athletes for Hope | 2:17 |
20 | Victor Van De Putte | Deschacht-Hens-FSP | 2:32 |
21 | Ward Huybs | Baloise Trek Lions | 2:35 |
22 | Sil De Brauwere | MJ Wood | 2:41 |
23 | Daan Soete | Ridley Racing Team | 2:54 |
24 | Yordi Corsus | Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal | 3:13 |
25 | Clément Horny | BH-Wallonie | 3:24 |
26 | Sander De Vet | Alfasun-Basso Team Flanders | 3:28 |
27 | Rémi Lelandais | Cross Team Legendre | 3:42 |
28 | Ugo Ananie | Arques CX Team | 3:48 |
29 | Tom Meeusen | Cyclis-Van Den Plas | 4:06 |
30 | Cameron Mason | Cyclocross Reds | 4:31 |
31 | Seppe Van Den Boer | Baloise Trek Lions | 5:02 |
32 | Bram Sprangers | Lotto-X-Oats Athletes for Hope | 5:09 |
33 | Barnabás Vas | Cube Csomor | 6:14 |
34 | Lukas Vanderlinden | VP Consulting | 6:30 |
35 | Antoine Jamin | BH-Wallonie | 7:09 |
36 | Ruben Lembrechts | Van Gorp Projects-Cycling TE | @ 2 laps |
37 | Thibaut Regost | Eseg Douai | @ 5 laps |
Winner Lucinda Brand solos across the line.
Bill and Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, Vol 2: 1976 - 2018 is available in print, Kindle eBook & Audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
The race: Here's the report from second-place Fem Van Empel's Team Visma | Lease a bike:
Fem van Empel finished second in the Superprestige race in Overijse. On the technical course, the 22-year-old Dutch rider was only beaten by compatriot Lucinda Brand.
Van Empel had a good start in the Druivencross, a classic on the cyclocross calendar. Together with several other favourites, the world champion forced the first gap in the race. On the third lap, the Dutch countered an attack by Brand and Casasola. After a short catch-up race, she seemed to join the front duo, but at that moment Brand accelerated again.
Van Empel then pursued solo, but she could not close the 10-second gap to the Dutch champion. After two races, Van Empel and Brand share the lead in the Superprestige classification.
“Unfortunately, I couldn't close the gap to Brand anymore”, Van Empel responded afterwards. “She accelerated at the right moment. After that it fell silent for a while. I can't blame myself today. I'm satisfied with this second place.”
Van Empel had a consistent start to the season. She achieved four podium finishes in as many races. “This season I rode to a podium spot in every race. My feeling on the bike is getting better and better. I'm really looking forward to the coming week, with the Koppenbergcross and the European Championships. Two races I have my sights set on.”
Results: Where no team is given, rider's country is listed.
1 | Lucinda Brand | Baloise Trek Lions | 47min 20sec |
2 | Fem Van Empel | Visma | Lease a Bike | @ 10sec |
3 | Sara Casasola | Crelan-Corendon | 0:35 |
4 | Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado | Fenix-Deceuninck | 1:26 |
5 | Kata Blanka Vas | SD Worx-Protime | 1:46 |
6 | Hélène Clauzel | Van Rysel CX Racing Team | 2:11 |
7 | Inge Van Der Heijden | Crelan-Corendon | 2:26 |
8 | Fleur Moors | Baloise Trek Lions | 2:30 |
9 | Amandine Fouquenet | Arkea-B&B Hotels | s.t. |
10 | Laura Verdonschot | De Ceuster-Bouwpunt | 2:35 |
11 | Aniek Van Alphen | Cyclocross Reds | 2:44 |
12 | Denise Betsema | Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal | 3:13 |
13 | Alicia Franck | De Ceuster-Bouwpunt | 3:25 |
14 | Leonie Bentveld | Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal | 4:16 |
15 | Anna Kay | Proximus-Cyclis-Alpha Motorhomes | 4:47 |
16 | Kiona Crabbé | Athletes for Hope | 4:48 |
17 | Marion Norbert Riberolle | Crelan-Corendon | 5:49 |
18 | Xaydee Van Sinaey | Crelan-Corendon | 6:33 |
19 | Francesca Baroni | Proximus-Cyclis-Alpha Motorhomes | 7:08 |
20 | Jinse Peeters | De Ceuster-Bouwpunt | 7:18 |
21 | Jamie De Beer | France | 7:38 |
22 | Shanyl De Schoesitter | Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal | 9:55 |
23 | Camille Devigne | Doltcini O'Shea | @ 2 laps |
24 | Jana Dobbelaere | Chevalmeire | @ 2 laps |
25 | Lucie Adam | Team JMCX | @ 2 laps |
Course map:
2024 Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Cross map