Van Aert is back, Van Anrooji surprises, and Alvarado and Worst continue their duel. The Krawatencross stop of the DVV Verzekeringen Trofee cyclocross series was a thriller.
The final round of the DVV Trofee was held in the Belgian town of Lille.
The course, on which Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) took his first Belgian National Champion jersey, had two main challenges, little uphills in the woods and lots of sand surrounding the lake.
Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Fenix), who showed her rainbow jersey for the first time, and Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen Bingoal) were leading in the DVV Trofee classification.
Women Deliver Another Thrilling Duel
After a headstart for Aniek van Alphen in the Elite Women’s race, Annemarie Worst (777) soon started pushing, Alvarado holding on to her wheel.
Alvarado accelerated, not content to sit on wheels. It was the start of a cat and mouse game between the Worlds’ main contenders.
With a few seconds’ advantage on the first group of chasers, Alvarado and Worst finished the first lap.
That advantage kept getting bigger in the following laps, as the fight behind them turned into a battle for third.
After an error of Worst, Alvarado opened up a gap, but a crash of the World Champion prevented that from being a possible decisive moment.
Just as last week in the Worlds, a sprint had to decide who would take the win.
Once again, Alvarado was the fastest and took her 13th Elite win of the season.
With the win, she also secured her overall victory in the DVV Trofee.
“I’m getting better and better in the sprint,” Alvarado said.
Does Alvarado aspire a career on the road, Sporza interviewer Ruben van Gucht wondered.
“I can’t deny that I have ambitions on the road. The plan is to try it this season already. No idea if that will go well, but I think I can go a long way. Especially the climbing races, stage races and tough one-day races should be a good fit for me.” (translated, source: Sporza)
In the back the battle for third had become a fight between former U23 World Champion Inge van der Heijden (CCC) and U19 World Champion Shirin van Anrooij.
It was van Anrooij who pulled the longest straw with an impressive third-place performance as a Junior.
Katie Compton was fifth. Rebecca Fahringer (Kona Maxxis Shimano) finished 28th, Emily Werner (Amy D Foundation) 45th, Corey Coogan Cisek (Triple C Racing) 57th.
He’s Back!
The men’s race kicked off with lots of pressure to deliver as an exciting race as the women’s. Belgian Champion Laurens Sweeck (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) took the holeshot. As riders were probably relieved Mathieu van der Poel’s season ended with the Worlds last week, another van der Poel stepped up, as David (Alpecin-Fenix) took Sweeck’s wheel.
Unlike van der Poel, Wout van Aert decided to race another weekend before starting his final preparation for the spring classics. Was he hoping for a win in his last cyclocross weekend?
At the end of the first lap, Elite men silver medalist on the Worlds Tom Pidcock (Trinity Racing) and van der Poel had a little gap behind Sweeck after an error of van der Poel.
The two soon rejoined making a leading trio.
After several other riders rejoined as well, Toon Aerts (Telenet Baloise Lions) bobbled, allowing Sweeck to take advantage.
Just as in the women’s race, a crash, this time of Sweeck and in the same corner Alvarado crashed, prevented it from being a decisive moment in the race.
Quinten Hermans (Circus-Wanty-Gobert) opened up a gap then, but it was van Aert who closed it down.
By the end of the fourth lap van Aert had opened up a 7 seconds advantage on Hermans, who had faced a mechanical, and 11 on a Pauwels Sauzen Bingoal trio with Sweeck, Michael Vanthourenthout and Iserbyt.
In the fifth lap, van Aert kept extending his lead as Sweeck and Hermans were now the chasing duo with a 15 seconds arrear. Hermans then dropped Sweeck, but kept losing time on van Aert, as he entered the last lap with in 23 seconds arrears.
Van Aert held on to his lead and pointing to his thigh he crossed the finish line to take his first Elite win in cycling since his horror crash in the Tour de France that injured his thigh so badly.
“There was a lot going through my head in the final stretch. It’s the first time that I’ve won again since my crash in the Tour. This is the confirmation that I can still do it,” van Aert said. “I went from far. But I immediately felt good. I could move to the front at ease and because mistakes were made, at some point I was in the chase on Quinten (Hermans) alone. I knew everybody was on their limit. Pushing and making the difference, that was my task all of a sudden.” (translated, source: Het Nieuwsblad)
Wout van Aert has plenty to smile about with his first cyclocross victory of the season, and a strong overall comeback. photo: 2019 Azencross, Loenhout. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Hermans took second. Former Belgian Champion Aerts beat current Belgian Champion Sweeck in the sprint for third.
Eli Iserbyt didn’t finish in today’s top 10, but is the 2019-2020 winner of the DVV Trofee.
America’s Curtis White (Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld) finished 24th, Kerry Werner (Kona Maxxis Shimano) 26th.
2020 DVV Verzekeringen Trofee Krawatencross Results: Elite Women
| Rank | BIB | Last Name | First Name | Country | Team | Age | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | ALVARADO | Ceylin del Carmen | NED | ALPECIN – FENIX | 22 | 0:42:18 |
| 2 | 3 | WORST | Annemarie | NED | 777 | 25 | 0:42:19 |
| 3 | 7 | VAN ANROOIJ | Shirin | NED | 18 | 0:42:45 | |
| 4 | 9 | VAN DER HEIJDEN | Inge | NED | CCC – LIV | 21 | 0:42:47 |
| 5 | 5 | COMPTON | Katherine | USA | 42 | 0:42:56 | |
| 6 | 24 | VAN ALPHEN | Aniek | NED | 21 | 0:42:59 | |
| 7 | 8 | BETSEMA | Denise | NED | PAUWELS SAUZEN – BINGOAL | 27 | 0:43:02 |
| 8 | 2 | CANT | Sanne | BEL | IKO – CRELAN | 30 | 0:43:05 |
| 9 | 10 | ARZUFFI | Alice Maria | ITA | 777 | 26 | 0:43:11 |
| 10 | 17 | KAY | Anna | GBR | EXPERZA PRO CX | 21 | 0:43:20 |
| 11 | 14 | SELS | Loes | BEL | IKO – CRELAN | 35 | 0:43:24 |
| 12 | 12 | LECHNER | Eva | ITA | CREAFIN – FRISTADS | 35 | 0:43:25 |
| 13 | 4 | KASTELIJN | Yara | NED | 777 | 23 | 0:43:33 |
| 14 | 20 | GONZALEZ BLANCO | Lucia | ESP | NESTA – SKODA ALECAR CX TEAM | 30 | 0:43:53 |
| 15 | 13 | VERDONSCHOT | Laura | BEL | PAUWELS SAUZEN – BINGOAL | 24 | 0:43:58 |
| 16 | 6 | NORBERT RIBEROLLE | Marion | FRA | EXPERZA PRO CX | 21 | 0:44:02 |
| 17 | 11 | VAN LOY | Ellen | BEL | TELENET BALOISE LIONS | 40 | 0:44:08 |
| 18 | 18 | FRANCK | Alicia | BEL | EXPERZA PRO CX | 26 | 0:44:09 |
| 19 | 29 | BAKKER | Manon | NED | EXPERZA PRO CX | 21 | 0:44:28 |
| 20 | 22 | HOEKE | Geerte | NED | 30 | 0:44:46 | |
| 21 | 49 | GARIBOLDI | Rebecca | ITA | 24 | 0:44:47 | |
| 22 | 52 | GOOSSENS | Veerle | NED | 27 | 0:44:55 | |
| 23 | 16 | KAPTHEIJNS | Maud | NED | PAUWELS SAUZEN – BINGOAL | 26 | 0:45:03 |
| 24 | 21 | VERHESTRAETEN | Karen | BEL | IKO – CRELAN | 29 | 0:45:06 |
| 25 | 33 | VAN ANROOIJ | Lindy | NED | 24 | 0:45:30 | |
| 26 | 42 | ROOIJAKKERS | Pauliena | NED | 27 | 0:45:43 | |
| 27 | 27 | TRUYEN | Marthe | BEL | TELENET BALOISE LIONS | 21 | 0:45:46 |
| 28 | 28 | FAHRINGER | Rebecca | USA | 31 | 0:46:22 | |
| 29 | 63 | HARNDEN | Harriet | GBR | 19 | 0:46:25 | |
| 30 | 57 | VAN EMPEL | Fem | NED | 18 | 0:46:25 | |
| 31 | 55 | CRABBÉ | Kiona | BEL | 19 | 0:46:25 | |
| 32 | 35 | DELHAYE | Pauline | FRA | 31 | 0:46:40 | |
| 33 | 54 | VAN DER BURG | Esther | NED | 22 | 0:46:47 | |
| 34 | 59 | BROUWERS | Julie | BEL | 18 | 0:46:57 | |
| 35 | 31 | MULDER | Mascha | NED | GROUP HENS – MAES CONTAINERS | 26 | 0:47:00 |
| 36 | 62 | PEETERS | Jinse | BEL | 21 | 0:47:14 | |
| 37 | 19 | VAS | Kata Blanka | HUN | 19 | 0:47:21 | |
| 38 | 26 | VERHOEVEN | Suzanne | BEL | 24 | 0:47:25 | |
| 39 | 34 | VAN DEN BRANDE | Mirthe | BEL | 17 | 0:47:32 | |
| 40 | 40 | DE BRUYNE | Meg | BEL | 24 | 0:47:39 | |
| 41 | 66 | KUIJPER | Elodie | NED | 20 | 0:47:44 | |
| 42 | 45 | VERVLOET | Sterre | BEL | 17 | 0:47:45 | |
| 43 | 53 | ZWAENEPOEL | Tessa | BEL | 19 | 0:47:51 | |
| 44 | 46 | VERMEIREN | Tinne | BEL | 25 | 0:48:11 | |
| 45 | 30 | WERNER | Emily | USA | 27 | 0:48:11 | |
| 46 | 61 | DE WILDE | Julie | BEL | 18 | 0:48:15 | |
| 47 | 51 | VAN DER ZWAAN | Laura | NED | 19 | 0:48:28 | |
| 48 | 23 | MAES | Shana | BEL | 25 | 0:48:49 | |
| 49 | 32 | VAN WUNSEL | Lise | BEL | 20 | 0:49:21 | |
| 50 | 48 | BAELE | Lotte | BEL | 17 | 0:49:21 | |
| 51 | 47 | STRATHDEE | Ishbel | GBR | 19 | 0:49:21 | |
| 52 | 56 | JOCHEMS | Britt | NED | 31 | -1 LAP | |
| 53 | 65 | NELEN | Kristien | BEL | 42 | -1 LAP | |
| 54 | 41 | DHONT | Kiona | BEL | 17 | -1 LAP | |
| 55 | 25 | BOONEN | Valerie | BEL | 27 | -1 LAP | |
| 56 | 50 | MAUS | Laetitia | LUX | 19 | -1 LAP | |
| 57 | 60 | COOGAN CISEK | Corey | USA | 43 | -1 LAP | |
| 58 | 36 | BEIRINCKX | Lina | BEL | 18 | -2 LAPS | |
| 59 | 15 | VERSCHUEREN | Jolien | BEL | PAUWELS SAUZEN – BINGOAL | 30 | -2 LAPS |
| 60 | 43 | SCHEVENELS | Lies´L | BEL | 17 | -2 LAPS | |
| 61 | 44 | SCHOON | Lisette | NED | 20 | -2 LAPS | |
| 62 | 58 | DE KEULENAER | Karen | BEL | 58 | -2 LAPS | |
| 37 | STEFFENHAGEN | Diana | GER | 35 | DNS |
2020 DVV Verzekeringen Trofee Krawatencross Results: Elite Men
| Rank | BIB | Last Name | First Name | Country | Team | Age | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | VAN AERT | Wout | BEL | 26 | 0:57:57 | |
| 2 | 8 | HERMANS | Quinten | BEL | 25 | 0:58:18 | |
| 3 | 2 | AERTS | Toon | BEL | TELENET BALOISE LIONS | 27 | 0:58:37 |
| 4 | 1 | SWEECK | Laurens | BEL | PAUWELS SAUZEN – BINGOAL | 27 | 0:58:37 |
| 5 | 5 | VANTHOURENHOUT | Michael | BEL | PAUWELS SAUZEN – BINGOAL | 27 | 0:58:43 |
| 6 | 7 | PIDCOCK | Thomas | GBR | TRINITY RACING | 21 | 0:58:45 |
| 7 | 6 | VAN DER HAAR | Lars | NED | TELENET BALOISE LIONS | 29 | 0:58:47 |
| 8 | 14 | SOETE | Daan | BEL | PAUWELS SAUZEN – BINGOAL | 26 | 0:58:47 |
| 9 | 11 | MEEUSEN | Tom | BEL | GROUP HENS – MAES CONTAINERS | 32 | 0:58:47 |
| 10 | 13 | ADAMS | Jens | BEL | 28 | 0:58:49 | |
| 11 | 3 | ISERBYT | Eli | BEL | PAUWELS SAUZEN – BINGOAL | 23 | 0:58:51 |
| 12 | 16 | ORTS LLORET | Felipe | ESP | CYCLO – CROSS TEAM TEIKA – GSPORT – BH | 25 | 0:59:10 |
| 13 | 18 | AERTS | Thijs | BEL | TELENET BALOISE LIONS | 24 | 0:59:27 |
| 14 | 15 | AERNOUTS | Jim | BEL | TELENET BALOISE LIONS | 31 | 0:59:32 |
| 15 | 9 | VAN KESSEL | Corne | NED | 29 | 0:59:46 | |
| 16 | 46 | PEETERS | Yannick | BEL | PAUWELS SAUZEN – BINGOAL | 24 | 1:00:25 |
| 17 | 24 | UYTDEWILLIGEN | Ingmar | BEL | TARTELETTO – ISOREX | 29 | 1:00:29 |
| 18 | 19 | BOSMANS | Wietse | BEL | 29 | 1:01:11 | |
| 19 | 12 | VAN DER POEL | David | NED | ALPECIN – FENIX | 28 | 1:01:19 |
| 20 | 21 | SUAREZ FERNANDEZ | Kevin | ESP | NESTA – SKODA ALECAR CX TEAM | 26 | 1:01:22 |
| 21 | 22 | MERLIER | Braam | BEL | CREAFIN – FRISTADS | 26 | 1:01:26 |
| 22 | 51 | WOUTERS | Sieben | NED | CREAFIN – FRISTADS | 24 | 1:01:28 |
| 23 | 17 | CLEPPE | Nicolas | BEL | TELENET BALOISE LIONS | 25 | 1:01:30 |
| 24 | 49 | WHITE | Curtis | USA | 25 | 1:01:44 | |
| 25 | 53 | DORIGONI | Jakob | ITA | SELLE ITALIA – GUERCIOTTI – ELITE | 22 | 1:01:46 |
| 26 | 23 | WERNER | Kerry | USA | 29 | 1:01:58 | |
| 27 | 41 | SWEECK | Hendrik | BEL | 28 | 1:02:04 | |
| 28 | 35 | ALDERWEIRELD | Robin | BEL | 24 | 1:02:52 | |
| 29 | 28 | GYS | Jens | BEL | 31 | 1:03:21 | |
| 30 | 31 | DE MEYER | Senne | BEL | 24 | 1:03:27 | |
| 31 | 33 | VERHEYEN | Thomas | BEL | 23 | 1:03:41 | |
| 32 | 38 | ROELANDT | Kenny | BEL | 34 | 1:03:46 | |
| 33 | 50 | LEAERTS | Yelle | BEL | 26 | -1 LAP | |
| 34 | 32 | DE WIT | Edwin | BEL | 37 | -1 LAP | |
| 35 | 45 | GROENEN | Klaas | NED | 26 | -2 LAPS | |
| 36 | 47 | MICHALSKI | Karol | POL | 28 | -2 LAPS | |
| 37 | 25 | KOYEN | Niels | BEL | 29 | -3 LAPS | |
| 38 | 42 | PARENTI | Nicola | ITA | 24 | -4 LAPS | |
| 39 | 36 | MEELBERGHS | Pieter | BEL | 32 | -4 LAPS | |
| 40 | 39 | OGER | Vincent | BEL | 26 | -4 LAPS | |
| 41 | 37 | EDHOFER | Thomas | GER | 35 | -5 LAPS | |
| 42 | 44 | HEYMES | Gauthier | FRA | 25 | -5 LAPS | |
| 43 | 43 | CAROZZO | Marco | ITA | 24 | -6 LAPS | |
| 44 | 52 | MARKIEWICZ | Mikolaj | POL | 27 | -6 LAPS | |
| 20 | BAESTAENS | Vincent | BEL | GROUP HENS – MAES CONTAINERS | 31 | DNF | |
| 34 | SMETS | Gert | BEL | CREAFIN – FRISTADS | 23 | DNF | |
| 48 | VERBEECK | Glenn | BEL | 23 | DNF | ||
| 10 | MEISEN | Marcel | GER | ALPECIN – FENIX | 31 | DNS |
