Exact Cross Essen: Laurens Sweeck edges out Niels Vandeputte in close finish

Laurens Sweeck celebrates Exact Cross Essen victory ahead of Niels Vandeputte
Laurens Sweeck celebrates Exact Cross Essen victory ahead of Niels Vandeputte (Image credit: Getty Images)

Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon) beat Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Deceuninck) at the Exact Cross Essen, beating his countryman to the line after a tense closing duel.

The pair led the race on the final lap after breaking away from an elite lead group, with Vandeputte leading the way into the last section of the circuit. Around the final bend onto the finishing straight, Vandeputte slipped momentarily and didn't clip into his pedal quickly enough.

Dani Ostanek
Senior News Writer

Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, having joined in 2017 as a freelance contributor and later being hired full-time. Before joining the team, she had written for numerous major publications in the cycling world, including CyclingWeekly and Rouleur. She writes and edits at Cyclingnews as well as running newsletter, social media, and how to watch campaigns.

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