2021 X²O Trofee Loenhout – Azencross may have lacked fans but it did not lack in star power.
In early December, the Consultation Committee in Belgium had banned the public from indoor events and eventually outdoor events as well. Unfortunately, this meant that fans were not there to cheer on their favorite racer(s).
However, that did not stop the racers from showing off their skills on the Loenhout – Azencross course.
Elite Men at the start. 2021 X2O Trofee Azencross Loehout Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
We were missing two of the three Big 3 this race, Tom Pidcock and Mathieu Van der Poel. Tom Pidcock did not attend the race. Mathieu Van der Poel was originally going to attend, however, his back injury stopped him from attending the 2021 X²O Trofee Loenhout – Azencross. We probably won’t see him during the World Cup in Hulst either.
Wout van Aert just won his sixth consecutive race this season since his return at the 2021 Telenet Superprestige Boom.
Wout van Aert crossing the finish line. 2021 X2O Trofee Azencross Loehout Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Wout van Aert after left the other racers in the ditches. 2021 X2O Trofee Azencross Loehout Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Michael Vanthourenhout came in second place after his battle with Wout van Aert.
Michael Vanthourenhout gave a valiant chase. 2021 X2O Trofee Azencross Loehout Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Laurens Sweeck and Michael Vanthourenhout bunnyhopped the barriers. 2021 X2O Trofee Azencross Loehout Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Wout van Aert tailed by Michael Vanthourenhout on the iconic rollers. 2021 X2O Trofee Azencross Loehout Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Toon Aerts podiumed.
Wout van Aert, Michael Vanthourenhout, and Toon Aerts on the podium. 2021 X2O Trofee Azencross Loehout Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Jens Adams bunnyhopped the barrier. 2021 X2O Trofee Azencross Loehout Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Quinten Hermans is making a habit of fast starts. 2021 X2O Trofee Azencross Loehout Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
See the full results:
2021 X²O Trofee Loenhout - Azencross Results: Elite Men
| # | Name | Age | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VAN AERT Wout | 27 | 56:16:00 | |
| 2 | VANTHOURENHOUT Michael | 28 | PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | 0:14 |
| 3 | AERTS Toon | 28 | BALOISE TREK LIONS | 0:27 |
| 4 | VAN KESSEL Corné | 30 | TORMANS - CIRCUS CYCLO CROSS TEAM | 0:41 |
| 5 | SWEECK Laurens | 28 | PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | 0:54 |
| 6 | HERMANS Quinten | 26 | TORMANS - CIRCUS CYCLO CROSS TEAM | 0:59 |
| 7 | ORTS LLORET Felipe | 26 | 1:04 | |
| 8 | MERLIER Tim | 29 | ALPECIN - FENIX | 1:10 |
| 9 | BAESTAENS Vincent | 32 | CX TEAM DESCHACHT - GROUP HENS - MAES CONTAINERS | 1:17 |
| 10 | VANDEBOSCH Toon | 22 | PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | 1:25 |
| 11 | VANDEPUTTE Niels | 21 | ALPECIN - FENIX | 1:32 |
| 12 | ADAMS Jens | 29 | 1:33 | |
| 13 | MEEUSEN Tom | 33 | CX TEAM DESCHACHT - GROUP HENS - MAES CONTAINERS | 1:34 |
| 14 | ISERBYT Eli | 24 | PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | 1:41 |
| 15 | SOETE Daan | 27 | CX TEAM DESCHACHT - GROUP HENS - MAES CONTAINERS | 2:09 |
| 16 | MEIN Thomas | 22 | TORMANS - CIRCUS CYCLO CROSS TEAM | 2:20 |
| 17 | VERMEERSCH Gianni | 29 | ALPECIN - FENIX | 2:31 |
| 18 | KUHN Kevin | 23 | TORMANS - CIRCUS CYCLO CROSS TEAM | 3:13 |
| 19 | AERTS Thijs | 25 | BALOISE TREK LIONS | 3:17 |
| 20 | LOOCKX Lander | 24 | CX TEAM DESCHACHT - GROUP HENS - MAES CONTAINERS | 3:33 |
| 21 | WHITE Curtis | 26 | CANNONDALE/CYCLOCROSSWORLD | 3:42 |
| 22 | PERIOU Tony | 26 | TEAM S1NEO LOUDEAC | 3:45 |
| 23 | VRACHTEN Arne | 22 | 4:02 | |
| 24 | WERNER Kerry | 30 | 4:13 | |
| 25 | SUAREZ FERNANDEZ Kevin | 27 | NESTA - MMR CX TEAM | 4:15 |
| 26 | ROMBOUTS Seppe | 23 | 4:16 | |
| 27 | ALDERWEIRELD Robin | 25 | 4:49 | |
| 28 | WUYTS Mathijs | 23 | 4:54 | |
| 29 | GODRIE Stan | 28 | 4:56 | |
| 30 | SIEMONS Julian | 22 | 5:07 | |
| 31 | GUILLAUD Valentin | 24 | TEAM GUEVEL IMMOBILIER LAVAL CYCLISME 53 | 5:43 |
| 32 | DEGROOTE Jonas | 26 | 5:47 | |
| 33 | JUNQUERA SAN MILLAN Mario | 24 | UNICAJA BANCO-GIJON | 5:52 |
| 34 | MORICHON Mathieu | 26 | TEAM ROYALBIKESHOP.COM | 5:57 |
| 35 | VAN DER POEL David | 29 | ALPECIN - FENIX | 6:15 |
| 36 | MEISEN Marcel | 32 | ALPECIN - FENIX | 6:16 |
| 37 | HUMBERT Valentin | 25 | TEAM S1NEO LOUDEAC | 6:44 |
| 38 | SWARTZ Caleb | 22 | 6:46 | |
| 39 | DE MEYER Senne | 25 | ' | |
| 40 | UYTDEWILLIGEN Ingmar | 30 | 7:07 | |
| 41 | GROENEN Klaas | 27 | 7:14 | |
| 42 | HAUSSLER Heinrich | 37 | 7:16 | |
| 43 | PEERS Nick | 23 | 7:18 | |
| 44 | MARASCO Lorenzo | 23 | SEBMOTOBIKES CX TEAM | 7:19 |
| 45 | VAN COMPERNOLLE Kenneth | 33 | 7:21 | |
| 46 | TORMANS Siebe | 24 | 7:25 | |
| 47 | COLMAN Alex | 23 | 7:26 | |
| 48 | CAREME Grégory | 22 | ||
| 49 | ULIK Matej | 24 | ||
| 50 | VAN GESTEL Dries | 27 | ||
| 51 | GUILLON Celestin | 25 | ||
| 52 | HAMM Florian | 22 | TEAM SCHAMEL P/B KLOSTER KITCHEN | |
| 53 | ZELENY Ondrej | 39 | ||
| 54 | VAN STAEYEN Maarten | 23 | ||
| 55 | LEARTS Yelle | 27 | ||
| 56 | JETTE Cameron | 34 | ||
| 57 | GINIAT Andrew | 30 | ||
| 58 | TABURET Mathieu | 25 | ||
| 59 | O'CONNOR Finnegan | 22 | ||
| 60 | HEIGL Philipp | 28 | ||
| 61 | JACK Rory | 30 | ||
| 62 | CLOUTIER Tyler | 32 | ||
| 63 | RUTS Andy | 23 | ||
| 64 | MAYER Yannick | 30 | ||
| 65 | JUNGE Frederick | 25 | ||
| 66 | HEYMES Gauthier | 26 | ||
| 67 | BRUYNSEELS Greg | 22 | ||
| DNF | DE SCHUYTER Tim | 28 | ||
| DNF | BEKAERT Yentl | 22 | BALOISE TREK LIONS | |
| DNF | SWEECK Diether | 28 | IKO - CRELAN | |
| DNF | LANDO Nicholas | 24 |
Check out the previous 2021 Heusden Zolder Superprestige Elite Men results.
