Sweeck wins Jaarmarketcross Superprestige
Van der Haar beaten in final sand pit
Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Firstads) secured the win in the elite men’s Superprestige Niel - Jaarmarketcross after a battle with Lars van der Haar (Baloise Trek Lions).
Sweeck made his winning move through the sandpit on the last lap and crossed the line with three seconds to spare, forcing van der Haar to settle for second place.
Newly crowned European Champion Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) finished in third place at 35 seconds back.
It was his second win of the season after a victory at the World Cup Maasmechelen, and his eighth podium performance on the international cyclocross stage this year.
"They often tell me to keep calm in training. Maybe I should agree with them now," said Sweeck, who had suffered symptoms of a head cold and didn't train for two days during the week.
"I was sick, but maybe it helped. I was at my limit. Otherwise, I won't let Lars come back. I think I'm going to focus completely on the Superprestige and the World Cup now."
A group of 11 riders emerged on the opening lap of what turned out to be a fast circuit in Niel. Eli Iserbyt and Vanthourenhout opened a gap, but both van der Haar and Sweeck soon reconnected with them out front.
Sweeck used the sandpit to gain on his rivals, but van der Haar was able to join him in what turned into a two-man battle for the win as Iserbyt made some technical errors.
Sweeck proved, yet again, strongest through the sand on the last lap, and van der Haar wasn't strong enough to close the gap before the finish line.
"I knew that Laurens was very strong in the sandbox. It just didn't work out today," van der Haar said.
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Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.
Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.
She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.
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