One week after his Belgian title in the U23 category, Emiel Verstrynge inaugurated his new kit in the best possible way by winning his first U23 World Cup race in Flamanville this Sunday. A fantastic success for the rider of Tormans Cyclo Cross Team as it was his second consecutive victory and the final round of the U23 World Cup.
Verstrynge dressed in the Belgian colors and rode his first meters on his brand new CUBE Cross Race, a present from CUBE Bikes after his national title in Middelkerke. The 19 year old defeated European champion Ryan Kamp, 2nd, and World Champion Pim Ronhaar, 4th, to win a very exciting battle around the castle in the Norman village. After a training camp with Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert in Alicante, Théo Thomas also performed well on home soil. He finished 9th, taking his second World Cup top 10 of the season. Joran Wyseure finished 13th.
In the Elite Men’s category, Corné van Kessel and Kevin Kuhn also raced on the explosive circuit with numerous hairpins. Kuhn, who celebrated his second consecutive Swiss title last Sunday, delivered his best World Cup performance. He finished fifth after a strong second race half, during which he joined forces with van Kessel. He preceded Jens Adams and his teammate by a couple of seconds at the end of the eighth and final lap.
Also Thomas Mein honored his brand new national champion’s kit. The British rider participated in the sixth race of the National Cyclocross Trophy in Brighton Hall and took the lead from start to finish. A couple of days after his 23rd birthday, the rider concluded the weekend for Tormans Cyclo Cross Team with another second consecutive success.
Thanks to his French succes, Emiel Verstrynge concluded the U23 World Cup third overall. Flamanville was the final World Cup of the season for the U23 category as the races for the youth categories in Hoogerheide were cancelled. The Elite men will conclude the World Cup season in the Dutch city next Sunday.
Emiel Verstrynge:
« My victory at the national championships last week was a boost for my confidence. In addition, receiving a brand new custom Cube Crossrace as a surprise added another dimension to my motivation. However, in the beginning of the race I didn’t feel great and I also punctured. But it went better and better and I managed to join the three leaders. I followed an attack of Pim Ronhaar and all of a sudden I was alone. I didn’t look back and went full to the finish. I had to give all I had to take the victory as Kamp stayed very close until the finish. Next to the racing also my exams are going well, so I’m looking forward to my next race in Hamme and the World Championships! »
World Cup Flamanville Men U23:
1.Emiel Verstrynge 48:53
2.Ryan Kamp +0:03
3.Mees Hendrikx +0:25
9.Théo Thomas +1:33
13.Joran Wyseure +2:04
World Cup Flamanville Men Elite:
1.Eli Iserbyt 1:01:51
2.Toon Aerts +0:59
3.Michael Vanthourenhout +1:12
5.Kevin Kuhn +1:44
7.Corné van Kessel +1:46
