Emiel Verstrynge and Joran Wyseure participated to the prologue of another World Cup race in Koksijde this Sunday and represented the Tormans Cyclo Cross Team in the U23 category on the same parcours through the sand dunes of the North Sea. The duo started at 11h30 with light rain.
After a fast start, the two young men maintained a high rhythm so only five leaders were left halfway through the race. Verstrynge and Wyseure then united forces to decrease the 10 second gap with Jente Michels. With the same determination, the tandem Verstrynge-Wyseure kept the leader within sight.
Wyseure showed class in the sand and managed to join Michels with one lap to go, before leaving him behind and finish the race solo. He took his first UCI victory, 16 seconds ahead of Michels. The exemplary collective performance was crowned by a 3rd place of Verstrynge, who finished 12th in the Superprestige one day before.
Later on, five riders of Tormans Cyclo Cross Team participated in the Elite World Cup races. 18 year old Luxembourg rider Marie Schreiber concluded the seventh World Cup race in 35th place, with Zoe Bäckstedt finishing 22nd in the cyclocross won by Annemarie Worst.
The quartet composed of Quinten Hermans, Kevin Kuhn, Théo Thomas and Corné Van Kessel closed the event as the rain doubled its intensity and increased the difficulty of the parcours. Hermans dictated the pace during the first two laps, claiming a major role again in the sand of Koksijde. The 26 year old Belgian rider just missed out on the podium, 14 seconds behind winner Iserbyt. Like one day before, Corné Van Kessel rode a constant pace again, resulting in a 6th place and his best World Cup result this season. Swiss rider Kevin Kuhn finished 18th and Frenchman Théo Thomas 24th.
Later on, five riders of Tormans Cyclo Cross Team participated in the Elite World Cup races. 18 year old Luxembourg rider Marie Schreiber concluded the seventh World Cup race in 35th place, with Zoe Bäckstedt finishing 22nd in the cyclocross won by Annemarie Worst.
The quartet composed of Quinten Hermans, Kevin Kuhn, Théo Thomas and Corné Van Kessel closed the event as the rain doubled its intensity and increased the difficulty of the parcours. Hermans dictated the pace during the first two laps, claiming a major role again in the sand of Koksijde. The 26 year old Belgian rider just missed out on the podium, 14 seconds behind winner Iserbyt. Like one day before, Corné Van Kessel rode a constant pace again, resulting in a 6th place and his best World Cup result this season. Swiss rider Kevin Kuhn finished 18th and Frenchman Théo Thomas 24th.
« My feeling was very good all week so I came here hoping for a podium spot. Emiel had the same ambition, so that's why we dominated the beginning of the race together. For example, he slowed down when I attacked in the second lap or we worked together to chase Michels. As sand races are not my speciality, it took me quite some time before I felt comfortable on the parcours. During the race I improved my trajectories, so I finished quite strong. As the parcours was difficult it was still possible to make a big difference in the final. This victory is an unbelievable surprise for me, and finishing on the podium together with Emiel is just fantastic! »
« I had the ambition to win here, but after a good start I felt that I didn't feel fresh enough after yesterday's race. So I understood that it would be difficult to beat my competitors who didn't race yesterday. As I didn't feel great I made a couple of mistakes and on this kind of difficult parcours they have bigger consequences. Joran and I did what we could to reduce the advantage of Michels and I'm happy that he dominated the final. For my part, I waited for the final lap to make an ultimate effort, because I wanted to finish on the podium. I can be satisfied with this 3rd place, combined with yesterday's 12th place in the Elite Superprestige! »
