{"id":6138,"date":"2024-01-29T10:23:17","date_gmt":"2024-01-29T09:23:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/?p=6138"},"modified":"2024-01-29T10:23:17","modified_gmt":"2024-01-29T09:23:17","slug":"wout-van-aert-triumphs-in-benidorm-it-will-be-an-interesting-world-championships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/2024\/01\/29\/wout-van-aert-triumphs-in-benidorm-it-will-be-an-interesting-world-championships\/","title":{"rendered":"Wout van Aert Triumphs in Benidorm: \u201cIt will be an interesting World Championships\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a remarkable show of resilience, Wout van Aert of Visma-Lease a Bike clinched a standalone victory at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup held in Benidorm, Spain. Van Aert’s defining moment came in the final lap where, despite a crash following the barriers and losing his saddle, he successfully fended off Michael Vanthourenhout of Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal to secure his season’s first World Cup triumph.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Van Aert shared his experience, stating, “I have a little bit of pain on my wrist. I think it is meant to be; my mother broke her wrist yesterday, they got married on the 13th of July, today I saw I had the number 13, and I thought, ‘it’s my day’. It was bad luck involved in the race, but I kept going, and that’s the way I like it.” He impressively finished the race sans saddle.<\/p>\n

Thibau Nys from Baloise Trek Lions took third place, leading the chase group. He was followed by Eli Iserbyt of Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal, while Mathieu van der Poel of Alpecin-Deceuninck, the World Champion, rallied to fifth place after a penultimate lap crash cost him time.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the race, Van Aert said, “I felt quite strong today. Obviously, Mathieu was strong, too, but had some bad luck, so it’s unfortunate that it didn’t come down to a battle. Still, when Mathieu crashed in the final, I had to beat all the others, and it was not easy. I’m happy I was able to do that. It’s always a sweet feeling to win, but, especially, the feeling of having good legs today was my goal, and I definitely succeeded in that, so it was a nice day for me. My plan will not change; it was a tight race today, so it will be an interesting World Championships.”<\/p>\n

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The drama \ud83d\ude31 \ud83d\ude31 \ud83d\ude31<\/p>\n

Wout van Aert runs the planks but then catches his leg on the bike and falls. No disaster though as he holds onto the lead into the finish in Benidorm!! @SportPic_Agency<\/a> #CXWorldCup<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/vWeGeZ39iJ<\/a><\/p>\n

— UCI Cyclocross (@UCI_CX) January 21, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n