Ethias Cross 2022 – 1 – Lokeren [FULL RACE]

September 11, 2021

Ethias Cross 2022 -1- Lokeren

The Ethias Cross series is one of the four major series in the cyclocross season. There are eight races in the Ethias Cross series, starting in September and ending in February.

The Rapencross course is a good season opener. It features all the hallmarks that would be expected of a ‘Cross course. As the course winds its way through the woods the riders will have to contend with roots, ditches, banks, a sandpit and, of course, the iconic ‘Cross barriers.

The result of the woodland setting is that the course is narrow, yielding only one efficient racing line. The power riders will love these long flowing sections between the course set pieces, such as the sand and the banks. They can make it very difficult and energy expensive for the following rider to make a move and take the lead position into those technical sections. However the high speed will bring drafting into play, so it’s likely we’ll see small bunches form in the opening moves of the race.

What are the conditions going to be like? Well the glorious weather we’ve been having is about to come to an abrupt end in Belgium with rain forecast for race day and the two days leading up to it. Whether this is enough to saturate the course for Saturday is questionable, dry ground repels initial rain, and tree’s typically soak up initial rainfall. This usually leads to the course being quite tacky and a little heavy in places, so it is likely there’ll be a few tricky spots on the course, but may get wetter and looser as the race develops and the rain falls.

Results :

General Classification after Stage 1 :