This Sunday, the delegation of Tormans Cyclo Cross Team competed in the eleventh race of the World Cup on the mythical course at the Citadel of Namur. Under the direction of Bart Wellens, eight riders participated in four different races on this well know challenging course for both the riders and their equipment, because of the climbing meters, the mud mixed with gravel stones or steep downhill sections with tree roots.
In the women’s categories, British rider Zoe Bäckstedt opened in the Junior race and dominated by winning with an advantage of over 1 minute. The European Champion took her second win in a row after her historical success in the elite category in Essen. One month after winning the first Junior World Cup in Tabor, Bäckstedt extended her lead in the general classification. Luxembourg rider Marie Schreiber, victim of several mechanicals, finished 51st in the elite & U23 category.
The male trio in the U23 category also showed a lot of perseverance despite bad luck. Belgian rider Emiel Verstrynge battled for the podium until the finish behind Pim Ronhaar, but eventually had to settle with 4th place after breaking his shoe against a barrier in the penultimate lap. Frenchman Théo Thomas achieved his best World Cup result of the season, with Joran Wyseure taking 13th place despite a puncture and pain in shoulder and elbow after a bad crash. Verstrynge is now 5th in the overall World Cup standings.
24 hours after the start of the previous World Cup race in Rucphen, the same elite quartet of Tormans Cyclo Cross Team started on the Citadel of Namur. Just like Verstrynge, Hermans also had bad luck and had to switch shoes as he was racing for the podium. Hermans finished 4th, Corné van Kessel in the top 10 for a ninth time in a row thanks to his 8th place and Briton Thomas Mein closed the top 15. Kevin Kuhn, winner of this race in 2019 in the U23 category, took 17th place despite two punctures. Hermans is currently 4th in the overall World Cup standings after this eleventh race.
« It was a great race, until I went too far towards the outside of a double corner and broke the closing system of my shoe against the barriers. Of course I am a little disappointed, because I think I was able to battle for 3rd place with Toon Aerts. But I remember my good feeling and the positive outcome for the World Cup overal standings. »
« This performance is good for my confidence! I felt good and was able to move up from the fourth start row to the front very soon. This course really suits me, but in previous editions I was never spared of mechanicals. This time I was able to avoid punctures and mistakes, which is pretty exceptional on this extraordinary course. Hopefully this is the start of a series of results! »
« After two weeks in Spain its the team during which we focused on the endurance, I didn’t expect to be at the top of my explosively. So I chose to ride a linear pace without going over my limit too often. When others accelerated uphill, I followed my own rhythm. I avoided mistakes, only a puncture in the final lap hindered me. I’m happy that I didn’t crash because it was a very technical and dagerous course. This result is good for my confidence going into the next races. Their will be a lot of running in Dendermonde so it will be hard again but that doesn’t mean I don’t like it! »
This race was so much fun but after a good start I had several mechanicals which made it impossible to set a good result. The course is really tough on the equipment!
