Top favorite Iserbyt takes European jersey in Rosmalen

Sunday, November 8, 2020 at 2:37 PM

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Eli Iserbyt is the new European champion among the pros. The Belgian rider of Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal stayed ahead of his fellow countryman Michael Vanthourenhout and Dutchman Lars van der Haar.

31 participants from 9 countries competed this afternoon for the European title. But as is often the case in the absence of world champion Mathieu van der Poel, it was mainly the eight-man Belgian selection that made an impression.

In the first round, the blue shirts already occupied the first six positions, with the Spaniard Felipe Orts just behind. The biggest challenger on paper, Dutchman Lars van der Haar, we had to look a bit further, around position fifteen.

After a bright start by Michael Vanthourenhout, it was mainly Toon Aerts who led the forcing in the opening round. Laurens Sweeck and Eli Iserbyt had to look a bit further, after a mistake by the latter. Aerts drove the soul out of his body, but the two compatriots rectify the skewed situation a little later.

Iserbyt and Vanthourenhout – photo: Cor Vos

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Round three was the Iserbyt round. Again with watchdog (and Pauwels Sauces-Bingoal team mate) Michael Vanthourenhout in the wheel. The nephew of national coach Sven Vanthourenhout apparently had his best day of the year, because the West-Flemish even put Iserbyt under pressure a number of times. This battle earned the duo a 15-second bonus.

Print from Van der Haar
Behind it, Van der Haar, who had come through after a difficult opening phase, provided the pressure. At one point, the Dutchman came back within 10 seconds of the two leaders, which was the signal for Iserbyt to shift up a gear.

Vanthourenhout struggled a few meters behind for a long time, but in the penultimate lap the decline increased. In the final lap Iserbyt had a reassuring difference of ten to fifteen seconds. The Bavikhovenaar could not afford to go out for a long time, but here he did grab his very first jersey with the pros.

photo: Color Vos

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European Cyclo-Cross Championship 2020
Results men elite
1. Eli Iserbyt
2. Michael Vanthourenhout
3. Lars van der Haar
4. Laurens Sweeck
5. Show Aerts
6. Daan Soete
7. Felipe Ort
8. Quinten Hermans
9. Joshua Dubau
10. Vincent Baestaens