Description
December 30, 2022
Exact Cross 2023 – 6 – Loenhout
The Exact Cross series – formerly known as Ethias Cross and Brico Cross – is one of the four major series in the cyclocross season,
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December 30, 2022
Exact Cross 2023 – 6 – Loenhout
The Exact Cross series – formerly known as Ethias Cross and Brico Cross – is one of the four major series in the cyclocross season, making it one of the most prestigious series in modern cyclocross. The series takes place over eight rounds throughout the season, with all of the rounds being held in Belgium, one of the two heartlands of cyclocross alongside the Netherlands. Unlike other series, Exact Cross does not award points towards any sort of classification at the end of each race, nor does it compose an overall ranking. Exact Cross is instead a series of one-day races spread throughout the calendar, with whoever crosses the finish line in 1st place winning the race and the bounty of prizes on offer (which is usually money). The Exact Cross series started as the Brico Cross series in the 2016/17 season and had only six rounds in its first edition. In the 2018/19 season, the series introduced its current eight-round format and for the 2019/20 season, the series was renamed ‘Ethias Cross’. For this season the series will be known as ‘Exact Cross’ and will introduce some new races to its calendar, while still maintaining its eight-round format.
Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) won a three-man sprint to secure his fifth win of the season at Exact Cross Loenhout-Azencross on Friday. The Belgian Champion started his sprint from the third position and blasted across the finish line to take the victory ahead of Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and World Champion Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers).
Van der Poel appeared to have the upper hand in the three-way battle near the end of the race, but a minor slip in the mud cost him the slim lead that he forged for himself, allowing Van Aert and Pidcock to regain contact.
It all came down to the final half-a-lap as the three riders regrouped following a string of searing attacks, but as Van der Poel led the trio onto the finish-straightaway pavement, Van Aert launched his winning sprint inside the final hundred metres, leaving Van der Poel to settle for second and Pidcock third.
How it unfolded
Exact Cross Loenhout-Azencross marked the last cyclocross race of the 2022 season, held on a largely flat, rain-soaked, and muddy course in the province of Antwerp.
Van der Poel opened the race with a strong start, and it wasn’t long before the ‘big three’ – Van der Poel, Van Aert and Pidcock – were alone off the front. In the opening laps, the trio put on a spectacle for the hundreds of fans out to watch the racing.
Van Aert attacked on the fourth lap, but Van der Poel quickly followed as Pidcock appeared to struggle to hang on to the quick pace. The front continually reshuffled, however, with Van der Poel the next to take lead while Van Aert and Pidcock reconnected in the chase.
Van der Poel pushed on at the front and appeared to be gaining valuable time on the two rivals, but Pidcock single-handedly shut the gap down along the headwind stretch through the finish line straightaway, with Van Aert on his wheel. The trio started the fifth lap (of eight) together.
Van Aert almost immediately attacked, but he wasn’t able to shake Van der Poel or Pidcock. The three riders matched each other’s strengths, and they appeared to wait for any costly mistakes from one another and opportunities to try and gain time.
Pidcock lost a few metres when he was forced off his bike to run through the mud straightaway as Van Aert and Van der Poel rode away. As the two leaders eased up, however, the World Champion managed to pull them back on the sixth lap.
They had only briefly regrouped when Van der Poel made another move, opening a small gap that forced Van Aert to close. Pidcock appeared to struggle with the relentless attacking and fell off the pace.
The race for the win appeared to be between Van der Poel and Van Aert, with two laps to go, as they pushed their lead out to eight seconds. Pidcock tried desperately to close down the gap in the third position, determined to keep the pressure on.
Pidcock just managed to latch back onto the two front riders and raced straight through to the front, resetting the race against the trio on the last lap.
It was an all-out lap as Van Aert and Van der Poel took turns attacking, but a last-ditch effort from Van der Poel opened what looked to be the winning gap with a half lap to go.
An unlucky slip through a mud straightaway saw Van der Poel falter, and that allowed Van Aert all he needed to reconnect with the Dutchman. Their pace dropped, and suddenly Pidcock was back in contention for the final sprint.
Van Aert was the first to start his sprint and outpowered Van der Poel and Pidcock to take the victory.
Results :
. The Exact Cross series started as the Brico Cross series in the 2016/17 season and had only six rounds in its first edition. In the 2018/19 season, the series introduced its current eight-round format and for the 2019/20 season, the series was renamed ‘Ethias Cross’. For this season the series will be known as ‘Exact Cross’ and will introduce some new races to its calendar, while still maintaining its eight-round format.
Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) won a three-man sprint to secure his fifth win of the season at Exact Cross Loenhout-Azencross on Friday. The Belgian Champion started his sprint from the third position and blasted across the finish line to take the victory ahead of Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and World Champion Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers).
Van der Poel appeared to have the upper hand in the three-way battle near the end of the race, but a minor slip in the mud cost him the slim lead that he forged for himself, allowing Van Aert and Pidcock to regain contact.
It all came down to the final half-a-lap as the three riders regrouped following a string of searing attacks, but as Van der Poel led the trio onto the finish-straightaway pavement, Van Aert launched his winning sprint inside the final hundred metres, leaving Van der Poel to settle for second and Pidcock third.
<strong>How it unfolded</strong>
Exact Cross Loenhout-Azencross marked the last cyclocross race of the 2022 season, held on a largely flat, rain-soaked, and muddy course in the province of Antwerp.
Van der Poel opened the race with a strong start, and it wasn't long before the 'big three' - Van der Poel, Van Aert and Pidcock - were alone off the front. In the opening laps, the trio put on a spectacle for the hundreds of fans out to watch the racing.
Van Aert attacked on the fourth lap, but Van der Poel quickly followed as Pidcock appeared to struggle to hang on to the quick pace. The front continually reshuffled, however, with Van der Poel the next to take lead while Van Aert and Pidcock reconnected in the chase.
Van der Poel pushed on at the front and appeared to be gaining valuable time on the two rivals, but Pidcock single-handedly shut the gap down along the headwind stretch through the finish line straightaway, with Van Aert on his wheel. The trio started the fifth lap (of eight) together.
Van Aert almost immediately attacked, but he wasn't able to shake Van der Poel or Pidcock. The three riders matched each other's strengths, and they appeared to wait for any costly mistakes from one another and opportunities to try and gain time.
Pidcock lost a few metres when he was forced off his bike to run through the mud straightaway as Van Aert and Van der Poel rode away. As the two leaders eased up, however, the World Champion managed to pull them back on the sixth lap.
They had only briefly regrouped when Van der Poel made another move, opening a small gap that forced Van Aert to close. Pidcock appeared to struggle with the relentless attacking and fell off the pace.
The race for the win appeared to be between Van der Poel and Van Aert, with two laps to go, as they pushed their lead out to eight seconds. Pidcock tried desperately to close down the gap in the third position, determined to keep the pressure on.
Pidcock just managed to latch back onto the two front riders and raced straight through to the front, resetting the race against the trio on the last lap.
It was an all-out lap as Van Aert and Van der Poel took turns attacking, but a last-ditch effort from Van der Poel opened what looked to be the winning gap with a half lap to go.
An unlucky slip through a mud straightaway saw Van der Poel falter, and that allowed Van Aert all he needed to reconnect with the Dutchman. Their pace dropped, and suddenly Pidcock was back in contention for the final sprint.
Van Aert was the first to start his sprint and outpowered Van der Poel and Pidcock to take the victory.
<strong>Results : </strong>
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