Takes two to tango
Without Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert looked to be the starting favourite at the Superprestige Heusden-Zolder. Tibor del Grosso moved into Dutch leadership and he hit the front early with Felipe Orts. The final few laps was action packed as Van Aert surged alongside Del Grosso at the head of the race - Belgian versus Dutchman as they grew their advantage over the chasers.
The last lap was Van Aert and Del Grosso going head to head, and Felipe Orts chasing for the podium. It was a brilliant two-up sprint, where Del Grosso took victory, Orts crossed the line in sixth.
“I was fairly clam in the finale. Because we had a nice advantage, I could gamble a bit. I was surprised that Wout didn’t start his sprint earlier.”
-Tibor del Grosso
“Maybe I should have dared to go earlier. But the danger was that I would bring him with me. I absolutely can’t underestimate the opposition. Tibor is a top talent and he showed that he deserves it.”
-Wout van Aert
A solid sixth for Filipe Orts
National champion, Amandine Fouquenet
French National champion Amandine Fouquenet powered pas the favourites to a surprise victory in Heusden-Zolder. This is her second victory of the cyclocross season and probably one of the last for the soon-to-fold Arkea B&B Hotels squad. Her chances of gaining a last-minute contract for 2026 can only be guaranteed for the 24-year-old Frenchwoman.
“This is the greatest victory of my career. Of course, I was already French champion twice. But winning in Belgium is a very different ballgame. Hopefully, this victory will earn me a new contract. Preferably with a team where I can continue to combine road and cyclocross.”
-Amandine Fouquenet
Comments