Vanthourenhout Beats Pidcock to Win World Cup in Overijse: “It was very difficult”

By Monica Buck

The European champ beats the World champ. Van der Haar rounds up the podium.

Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) and Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) went against each other for the last three laps in the Overijse round of the World Cup. However, Pidcock, who earlier suffered a mechanical and had to work hard to get back to the front from 43rd place, suffered again on the penultimate lap and crashed. Vanthourenhout took advantage and held off his opponent by three seconds.

“Yeah, I think [it was] even better than the European Championships. I think it was a good battle. It was very difficult,” Vanthourenhout said.

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Lars van der Haar (Baloise Trek Lions) rode to a solo third place to round up the podium.

“I just didn’t get the turbo on today. I just couldn’t push today. I was really struggling to get the pace. In the second half when the rest were getting more tired, I could secure a podium and that was all for today,” Van der Haar said at the finish.

UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Overijse results

1. Michael Vanthourenhout (BEL) – 01:05:42
2. Tom Pidcock (GBR) + 03
3. Lars van der Haar (NED) + 37
4. Laurens Sweeck (BEL) + 01:09
5. Joris Nieuwenhuis (NED) + 01:30
6. Thibau Nys (BEL) + 01:31
7. Eli Iserbyt (BEL) + 01:36
8. Pim Ronhaar (NED) + 02:02
9. Jens Adams (BEL) + 02:45
10. Kevin Kuhn (SUI) + 03:03