Laurens Sweeck holds off Eli Iserbyt in Maldegem Exact Cross

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Niels Vandeputte takes third in all-Belgian podium at Parkcross

Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon)
Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon) (Image credit: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)

Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon) edged Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel) and won for a third time at Parkcross in Maldegem, making it his second victory of the season in the Exact Cross series, formerly known as Ethias Cross.

Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Deceuninck) confirmed a third place from a trailing group of five riders. The largely Belgian field dominated the race with nine riders in the top 10, Emiel Verstrynge (Crelan-Corendon) and Toon Aerts (Deschacht-Hens-FSP) rounding out the first five spots.

"My idea today was to ride flat out, but every time I looked back I saw ten men on my wheel. After that, I decided to always sit in second or third position so that I could always be attentive. I succeeded in that. This makes me very happy, especially because Sunday was such a disappointment," Sweeck told Wielerflits and other media at the finish, referring to his 10th-place finish at the Cyclo-cross World Championships last weekend.

Jackie Tyson
Jackie Tyson
North American Production editor

Jackie has been involved in professional sports for more than 30 years in news reporting, sports marketing and public relations. She founded Peloton Sports in 1998, a sports marketing and public relations agency, which managed projects for Tour de Georgia, Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah and USA Cycling. She also founded Bike Alpharetta Inc, a Georgia non-profit to promote safe cycling. She is proud to have worked in professional baseball for six years - from selling advertising to pulling the tarp for several minor league teams. She has climbed l'Alpe d'Huez three times (not fast). Her favorite road and gravel rides are around horse farms in north Georgia (USA) and around lavender fields in Provence (France), and some mtb rides in Park City, Utah (USA).

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