Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon) waited till the ultimate lap to place in a giant assault to say his third win of the 2024-25 cyclocross season on the fourth spherical of the Superprestige in Merksplas.
In a quick and tactical race, Sweeck overtook Toon Aerts (Deschacht-Hens-FSP) on the entrance of a 10-rider group to take the lead into the sand pit, constructing a two-second hole on his approach to victory. Aerts held on for second place whereas Lars van der Haar edged out his Baloise Trek Lions teammate Thibau Nys for third.
Early within the first lap, Vanthourenhout got here round Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Deceuninck), who took the holeshot, to take over the pacemaking, a place he would occupy for many of the nine-lap race. Spanish champion Felipe Orts (Ridley Racing) attacked a couple of occasions, however the entrance group would come again collectively again and again.
Group techniques additionally got here into play, as Vanthourenhout’s teammate Eli Iserbyt tried to dam a couple of occasions to the displeasure of Aerts within the last third of the race. With two laps to go, Aerts made his transfer, forcing Nys to shut the hole as Sweeck began to maneuver up. By the bell lap, Vanthourenhout was as soon as once more on the entrance, adopted by Aerts, and Sweeck whereas Nys and Iserbyt had been combating for place simply in entrance of Van der Haar
The battle for place earlier than the sand and last turns had been keys to successful the race with Sweeck bidding his time to lastly overtake Vanthourenhout to take the victory.
Vanthourenhout completed fourth and Vandeputte was fifth.
Van der Haar and Vandeputte are tied atop of the Superprestige standings with 49 factors, with a five-point lead on Vanthourenhout.
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