Down twice and still the strongest: Nys beats Vanthourenhout on the Koppenberg as Brand rides away in the women's race
In his first cyclocross of the winter, the Belgian champion won in Oudenaarde for the third time after a chase and a duel on the final climb.
Thibau Nys won the Koppenbergcross in Oudenaarde on Sunday, the first round of the X2O Trofee. It was his third win on the Koppenberg and, as last year, straight away his first victory of the winter, Sporza reports. Nys finished seven seconds ahead of Michael Vanthourenhout, with Gerben Kuypers third at 42 seconds. Pim Ronhaar and Cameron Mason completed the top five. Ronhaar was the best Dutch rider and, according to NOS, achieved his best result of the season.
It was not an easy afternoon. Midway through, Victor Van de Putte went down, and Nys crashed while trying to avoid him, losing around half a minute, Cyclingnews writes. Vanthourenhout, who has already won many races this season, led for a long time. Nys fought his way back lap by lap, but three laps from the end he slid out again and had to change bikes, leaving him twelve seconds behind. According to NOS, he caught Vanthourenhout again on the penultimate climb. On the final ascent of the Koppenberg, Vanthourenhout went first, but Nys came past and rode clear.
Afterwards Nys was critical of himself. According to Cyclingnews, he had the legs he wanted but felt he was too impatient and made too many mistakes. The European championships are next weekend, and he said he needs to improve a lot technically before then. Vanthourenhout was satisfied with second place, according to Sporza, while Kuypers said cobbles will never really suit him. In the X2O Trofee standings Nys leads Vanthourenhout by two seconds.
In the women's race, world champion Lucinda Brand won for the second year in a row. The Dutch rider left Marie Schreiber and Sara Casasola behind just after halfway and crossed the line alone, 53 seconds ahead of Casasola and 1 minute 22 ahead of Schreiber, Sporza reports. According to NOS, it was her fourth win in six races this season. Brand also said she intends to end her career at Paris-Roubaix in 2028. Fem van Empel, who abandoned after half a lap here last year, finished eighth in her third race since her return.