2021 Ethias Cross Essen was a mud pit filled with sharp turns that put the riders’ skills to the test.
Wout van Aert started off with a strong lead. He was light on his bike and maneuvered through the mud looking like he’s been riding cyclocross all season.
However, he had strong competition. Thijs Aerts and Pim Ronhaar were right on his tail.
Wout van Aert maneuvers through the mud. 2021 Ethias Cross Essen, Elite Men © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
The battle was on between Van Aert and Ronhaar. Van Aert attacked but Ronhaar was on his tail the first lap and kept up the pressure.
At the start of Round 2, Van Aert slipped away from Ronhaar, and similar to his first outing at Superprestige Boom, never looked back.
Wout van Aert battles Pim Ronhaar. 2021 Ethias Cross Essen, Elite Men © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
The group now consisted of Ronhaar, Lennert Belsman, Lander Loockx, and Aerts Thijs.
Aerts and Ronhaar battled for second but Aerts secured the lead late.
Wout van Aert, Thijs Aerts, and Pim Ronhaar on the podium. 2021 Ethias Cross Essen, Elite Men © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
See full results and the photo gallery below.
2021 Ethias Cross Results Elite Men
| # | Rider | Age* | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VAN AERT Wout | 27 | 57:21:00 | |
| 2 | AERTS Thijs | 25 | BALOISE TREK LIONS | 1:47 |
| 3 | RONHAAR Pim | 20 | BALOISE TREK LIONS | 2:07 |
| 4 | LOOCKX Lander | 24 | CX TEAM DESCHACHT - GROUP HENS - MAES CONTAINERS | 2:19 |
| 5 | BELMANS Lennert | 19 | IKO - CRELAN | 2:25 |
| 6 | VERHEYEN Thomas | 24 | 3:52 | |
| 7 | MEIN Thomas | 22 | TORMANS - CIRCUS CYCLO CROSS TEAM | 4:07 |
| 8 | ROMBOUTS Seppe | 23 | 4:13 | |
| 9 | BARNES Toby | 21 | TEAM SCHAMEL P/B KLOSTER KITCHEN | 4:25 |
| 10 | GYS Jens | 32 | 4:36 | |
| 11 | LAURYSSEN Yorben | 19 | 5:15 | |
| 12 | VRACHTEN Arne | 22 | 5:31 | |
| 13 | GROENEN Klaas | 27 | 5:49 | |
| 14 | SIEMONS Julian | 22 | 5:58 | |
| 15 | TORMANS Siebe | 24 | 6:08 | |
| 16 | BRINKMAN Joost | 18 | 6:21 | |
| 17 | BAERS Arne | 19 | 6:54 | |
| 18 | PEMEN Dolf | 21 | PROXIMUS - ALPHAMOTORHOMES - DOLTCINI CT | ' |
| 19 | TÖMKE Pascal | 21 | TEAM SCHAMEL P/B KLOSTER KITCHEN | 7:03 |
| 20 | VAN LIEROP Danny | 18 | 7:04 | |
| 21 | HUYBS Ward | 19 | BALOISE TREK LIONS | 7:31 |
| 22 | DEGROOTE Jonas | 26 | 7:47 | |
| 23 | VAN COMPERNOLLE Kenneth | 33 | ||
| 24 | UYTDEWILLIGEN Ingmar | 30 | ||
| 25 | DE MEYER Senne | 25 | ||
| 26 | CEUSTERS Rune | 18 | ||
| 27 | JANSSEN Lucas | 18 | ||
| 28 | LEARTS Yelle | 27 | ||
| 29 | ALDERWEIRELD Robin | 25 | ||
| 30 | JETTE Cameron | 34 | ||
| 31 | SLUYDTS Toon | 19 | ||
| 32 | D'HOLLANDER Senne | 19 | ||
| 33 | VAN HEIJST Jordi | 18 | ||
| 34 | DELNOIJE Rémon | 20 | ||
| 35 | CLAUWAERT Maarten | 21 | ||
| 36 | VAN CUTSEM Senna | 20 | ||
| 37 | PAUWELS Pieter | 18 | PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | |
| 38 | HERRMANN Lukas | 20 | TEAM SCHAMEL P/B KLOSTER KITCHEN | |
| 39 | STRIK Dylan | 20 | ||
| 40 | GEENEN Yarne-Zias | 18 | ||
| 41 | HEYMES Gauthier | 26 | ||
| 42 | COOMAN Kjell | 18 | ||
| DNF | VAN DE PUTTE Victor | 19 | ||
| DNF | VERBEECK Glenn | 24 | ||
| DNF | DEJONGHE Len | 21 | CX TEAM DESCHACHT - GROUP HENS - MAES CONTAINERS | |
| DNF | VAN TRICHT Floris | 20 | ||
| DNF | VERMEERSCH Gianni | 29 | ALPECIN - FENIX | |
| DNF | AVONDTS Mathis | 18 | IKO - CRELAN | |
| DNF | PEERS Nick | 23 |
2021 Ethias Cross Photo Gallery: Elite Men
Elite Men sprinting through the mud. 2021 Ethias Cross Essen (BEL), Elite Men © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
