Wout van Aert wins men's Zilvermeercross
New Belgian champion beats Sweeck in the sand and snow
![Wout van Aert won his first race in his new Belgian champion's jersey](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xH39zTWTzCB8ESUJZ9ZSui-320-80.jpg)
Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) won his first race as new Belgian national champion in Mol, beating Laurens Sweeck (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) in the sand and snow at the Zilvermeercross.
In the absence of Mathieu van der Poel and several other big-name rivals, Van Aert was able to dominate the racing, quickly passing fast starter Lars van der Haar and the rest, with only Sweeck able to hold his wheel as they fought for traction in the sand.
The two gradually pulled away from their rivals as the snow began to fall, with Van Aert eventually opening a gap in the final two laps after a slight error by Sweeck.
Van Aert then cruised to victory, finishing almost a minute ahead of Sweeck and even further ahead of van der Haar.
Before the start Van Aert played down reports that he is close to signing a new contract with Jumbo-Visma but he will now head to Spain to join his WorldTour teammates for a week of training.
He will be back in Belgium for the final round of the cyclo-cross World Cup in Overijse and the World Championships in Ostend, Belgium at the end of the month.
"Winning in the tricolor is fun. I hope to find a nice photo and I will frame it," Van Aert said.
"Sweeck rode very well. I put him under pressure in the sand but he stayed on my wheel. At a certain point I had a few metres and then I had to keep going. I rode hard and so at the end it was tough, also because of the wind. "
Pos. | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Wout Van Aert (Bel) Jumbo-Visma | 0:59:32 |
2 | Laurens Sweeck (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal | 0:00:57 |
3 | Lars Van Der Haar (Ned) Baloise Trek Lions | 0:01:01 |
4 | David Van Der Poel (Ned) Alpecin - Fenix | 0:01:23 |
5 | Jens Adams (Bel) | 0:01:34 |
6 | Daan Soete (Bel) Group Hens - Maes Containers | 0:01:42 |
7 | Diether Sweeck (Bel) Credishop-Fristads | |
8 | Corne Van Kessel (Ned) Tormans Cyclo Cross Team | |
9 | Tom Meeusen (Bel) Group Hens - Maes Containers | 0:02:16 |
10 | Jelle Camps (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal | 0:02:48 |
11 | Toon Vandebosch (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal | 0:03:22 |
12 | Felipe Orts Lloret (Spa) Teika-Bh-Gsport | 0:03:30 |
13 | Vincent Baestaens (Bel) Group Hens - Maes Containers | |
14 | Thomas Mein (GBr) Tormans Cyclo Cross Team | |
15 | Timo Kielich (Bel) Credishop-Fristads | |
16 | Thibau Nys (Bel) Baloise Trek Lions | 0:03:43 |
17 | Yentl Bekaert (Bel) Baloise Trek Lions | |
18 | Yan Gras (Fra) Aaa Sörius | 0:03:47 |
19 | Pim Ronhaar (Ned) Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal | 0:03:57 |
20 | Ben Turner (GBr) Trinity Racing | 0:04:03 |
21 | Steve Chainel (Fra) Cross Team Legendre | |
22 | Arne Vrachten (Bel) | 0:04:20 |
23 | Jim Aernouts (Bel) Baloise Trek Lions | 0:04:21 |
24 | Lander Loockx (Bel) Group Hens - Maes Containers | 0:04:26 |
25 | Curtis White (USA) | 0:04:36 |
26 | Gianni Siebens (Bel) | 0:04:39 |
27 | Ingmar Uytdewilligen (Bel) | 0:04:44 |
28 | David Menut (Fra) Cross Team Legendre | |
29 | Julian Siemons (Bel) | |
30 | Emiel Verstrynge (Bel) Tormans Cyclo Cross Team | |
31 | Kyle Agterberg (Ned) | |
32 | Witse Meeussen (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal | |
33 | Jens Gys (Bel) | |
34 | Arno Van Den Broeck (Bel) | |
35 | Joshua Dubau (Fra) | |
36 | Théo Thomas (Fra) Tormans Cyclo Cross Team | |
37 | Wout Vervoort (Bel) | |
38 | Joachim Van Looveren (Bel) Proximus - Alphamotorhomes - Doltcini Ct | |
39 | Ward Huybs (Bel) Baloise Trek Lions | |
40 | Cameron Mason (GBr) Trinity Racing | |
41 | Mickaël Crispin (Fra) Cross Team Legendre | |
42 | Arne Baers (Bel) | |
43 | Koen Van Dijke (Ned) | |
44 | Luke Verburg (Ned) | |
45 | Tom Mainguenaud (Fra) | |
46 | Cyprien Gilles (Fra) | |
47 | Stan Godrie (Ned) | |
48 | Ugo Ananie (Fra) Cross Team Legendre | |
49 | Jetze Van Campenhout (Bel) Group Hens - Maes Containers | |
50 | Clement Horny (Bel) | |
51 | Mathieu Morichon (Fra) | |
52 | Robin Alderweireld (Bel) | |
53 | Joran Wyseure (Bel) | |
54 | Thomas Verheyen (Bel) | |
55 | Victor Thomas (Fra) | |
56 | Dolf Pemen (Bel) Proximus - Alphamotorhomes - Doltcini Ct | |
57 | Valentin Remondet (Fra) A.S Bike Crossteam | |
58 | Antoine Huby (Fra) Cross Team Legendre | |
59 | Rémi Lelandais (Fra) Cross Team Legendre | |
60 | Florian Richard Andrade (Fra) Cross Team Legendre | |
61 | Noé Castille (Fra) Cross Team Legendre | |
62 | Ydris Salomez (Bel) Proximus - Alphamotorhomes - Doltcini Ct | |
63 | Noah Vreeswijk (Ned) | |
64 | Loïc Bettendorff (Lux) | |
65 | Cédric Pries (Lux) | |
66 | Jonathan Anderson (USA) | |
67 | Jules Van Kempen (USA) | |
68 | Mik Esser (Lux) | |
69 | Vincent Oger (Bel) | |
DNF | Hugo Jot (Fra) Ardennes Cross Team | |
DNF | Klaas Groenen (Ned) |
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/j0riqebpsw1715769462.png)
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Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters, Shift Active Media, and CyclingWeekly, among other publications.
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