Gerben Kuypers conquers mud in Essen at Exact Cross

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Adams and Verstrynge complete the podium

Gerben Kuypers in action
Gerben Kuypers in action (Image credit: Getty Images)

Gerben Kuypers (Proximus-Alpha Motorhomes-Doltcini) dominated the fourth round of the Exact Cross in Essen and took a solo victory in the province of Antwerp at Robotland on a cold Saturday.

It was Kuypers’ fifth victory of the year, the first elite win outside the Coupe de France series.

“I didn't expect to win here. But the game went exactly as I hoped," the 22-year-old winner told media after the race.

Since the women’s race earlier on Saturday, deeper roots and ruts were carved on the muddy course but the pace was still swift. Kuypers dashed to the lead at the start with Verstrynge on his back wheel. Adams had work to do straightaway, pushing from seventh place.

By the third of 10 laps, there were four riders who settled at the front, Kuypers and Verstrynge pushing the pace with Clément Horny (BH-Wallonie MTB) and Adams. One circuit later, a hesitation in the mud by Horny caused Adams to crash. This allowed Kuypers and Verstrynge to surge ahead and create a gap.

Adams then broke free of Verstrynge and Alpecin-Deceuninck duo of Jente Michels and Van de Putte to make the contest interesting with two and half laps to go, closing to within 21 seconds to Kuypers. 

The big names from the past two years, including 2021 winner Wout Van Aert and 2020 winner Mathieu van der Poel, skipped Essen to travel to Ireland for Sunday’s World Cup contest. Adams will be one of the top riders from Essen to pack his bike and travel to Dublin for a weekend doubleheader.

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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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