Aernouts takes home victory in under-23 race

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Belgian one-two as Frenchman rounds out podium

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Under-23 men's podium: Tom Meeusen (2nd, Belgium), Jim Aernouts (1st, Belgium) and Arnaud Jouffroy (3rd,France)(Image credit: Luc Claessen)

Belgian Jim Aernouts got the better of compatriot Tom Meeusen in a high quality race at the second round of the International Cycling Union's (UCI) World Cup for under-23 men. In addition to the traditional obstacle of Koksijde's sand dunes, some hail showers added even more spectacle halfway the race.

World Cup leader Robert Gavenda didn't have a great start, but fought his way back into the race. He eventually saved his leader's jersey by holding off Marek Konwa and Belgians Vincent Bastaens and Joeri Adams in the sprint for fourth place.

Sole US-starter Zach McDonald was held up by crashes early on, but showed glimpses of his talent by going smoothly through the sand and eventually finished 43rd.

"After a few laps I blew up my engine and got overheated," McDonald told Cyclingnews. "I was grateful with the hail as it cooled me down. I knew a good placing was no longer possible and in the end I mainly focused on not being lapped."

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Full Results
1Jim Aernouts (Belgium)0:53:23
2Tom Meeusen (Belgium)0:00:02
3Arnaud Jouffroy (France)0:00:16
4Robert Gavenda (Slovakia)0:00:33
5Vincent Baestaens (Belgium)0:00:36
6Joeri Adams (Belgium)Row 5 - Cell 2
7Marek Konwa (Poland)Row 6 - Cell 2
8Tijmen Eising (Netherlands)0:01:01
9Micki Van Empel (Netherlands)0:01:08
10Lars Van Der Haar (Netherlands)0:01:30
11Kevin Cant (Belgium)0:01:33
12Jan Denuwelaere (Belgium)0:01:38
13Kevin Eeckhout (Belgium)0:02:04
14Marcel Meisen (Germany)0:02:11
15Cristian Cominelli (Italy)0:02:15
16Matthieu Boulo (France)0:02:18
17Mitchell Huenders (Netherlands)0:02:27
18Sascha Weber (Germany)0:02:33
19Jiri Polnicky (Czech Republic)0:02:40
20Kacper Szczepaniak (Poland)0:02:56
21Pawel Szczepaniak (Poland)Row 20 - Cell 2
22Stef Boden (Belgium)0:03:02
23Sven Beelen (Belgium)0:03:13
24Wietse Bosmans (Belgium)0:03:30
25David Menger (Czech Republic)0:03:37
26Vinnie Braet (Belgium)0:03:51
27Karel Hnik (Czech Republic)0:03:54
28Corne Van Kessel (Netherlands)0:04:32
29Arnaud Grand (Switzerland)0:04:38
30Melvin Rulliere (France)0:04:42
31Ole Quast (Germany)0:04:45
32Matteo Trentin (Italy)0:04:50
33Jannik Hyldtoft Hansen (Denmark)Row 32 - Cell 2
34Lukas Winterberg (Switzerland)0:05:03
35Michael Schweizer (Germany)0:05:37
36Mattias Nilsson (Sweden)0:05:41
37Elia Silvestri (Italy)0:06:06
38Dario Stauble (Switzerland)0:06:08
39Jonas Schau Guddal (Denmark)0:06:51
40Kenneth Hansen (Denmark)0:07:02
41Michael Winterberg (Switzerland)0:07:19
42Irwin Gras (France)0:07:49
43Zach Mcdonald (United States Of America)0:09:06
44Kamil Gradek (Poland)-1 lap
45Fabian Danner (Germany)Row 44 - Cell 2
46Toni Bretschneider (Germany)-2 laps
47Naran Khangarid (Mongolia)Row 46 - Cell 2
48Baasankhuu Myagmarsuren (Mongolia)Row 47 - Cell 2
49Marek Canecky (Slovakia)-3 laps
50Thomas Girard (France)Row 49 - Cell 2
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U23 Men standings after 2 rounds
1Robert Gavenda (Svk) Slovakia100pts
2Tom Meeusen (Bel) Belgium80Row 1 - Cell 3
3Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra) France80Row 2 - Cell 3
4Jim Aernouts (Bel) Belgium63Row 3 - Cell 3
5Cristian Cominelli (Ita) Italy61Row 4 - Cell 3
6Vincent Baestaens (Bel) Belgium54Row 5 - Cell 3
7Lubomir Petrus (Cze) Czech Republic50Row 6 - Cell 3
8Micki Van Empel (Ned) Netherlands50Row 7 - Cell 3
9Arnaud Grand (Swi) Switzerland42Row 8 - Cell 3
10Tijmen Eising (Ned) Netherlands42Row 9 - Cell 3
11Jiri Polnicky (Cze) Czech Republic40Row 10 - Cell 3
12Matthieu Boulo (Fra) France37Row 11 - Cell 3
13Pawel Szczepaniak (Pol) Poland34Row 12 - Cell 3
14Sascha Weber (Ger) Germany33Row 13 - Cell 3
15Jan Denuwelaere (Bel) Belgium32Row 14 - Cell 3
16Joeri Adams (Bel) Belgium30Row 15 - Cell 3
17Kevin Cant (Bel) Belgium30Row 16 - Cell 3
18Marek Konwa (Pol) Poland28Row 17 - Cell 3
19Lars Van Der Haar (Ned) Netherlands28Row 18 - Cell 3
20Mitchell Huenders (Ned) Netherlands28Row 19 - Cell 3
21Marcel Meisen (Ger) Germany25Row 20 - Cell 3
22Kevin Eeckhout (Bel) Belgium18Row 21 - Cell 3
23Alessandro Calderan (Ita) Italy18Row 22 - Cell 3
24Luca Braidot (Ita) Italy17Row 23 - Cell 3
25Karel Hnik (Cze) Czech Republic16Row 24 - Cell 3
26Ole Quast (Ger) Germany15Row 25 - Cell 3
27Kacper Szczepaniak (Pol) Poland11Row 26 - Cell 3
28Nico Brüngger (Swi) Switzerland11Row 27 - Cell 3
29Stef Boden (Bel) Belgium9Row 28 - Cell 3
30Bryan Falaschi (Ita) Italy9Row 29 - Cell 3
31Sven Beelen (Bel) Belgium8Row 30 - Cell 3
32Wietse Bosmans (Bel) Belgium7Row 31 - Cell 3
33Michael Schweizer (Ger) Germany7Row 32 - Cell 3
34David Menger (Cze) Czech Republic6Row 33 - Cell 3
35Vinnie Braet (Bel) Belgium5Row 34 - Cell 3
36Filip Adel (Cze) Czech Republic5Row 35 - Cell 3
37Max Walsleben (Ger) Germany4Row 36 - Cell 3
38Corne Van Kessel (Ned) Netherlands3Row 37 - Cell 3
39Kenneth Van Compernolle (Bel) Belgium2Row 38 - Cell 3
40Melvin Rulliere (Fra) France1Row 39 - Cell 3
41Matthias Rupp (Swi) Switzerland1Row 40 - Cell 3

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