The 2022 GP Sven Nys in Baal, part of the X²O Badkamers Trofee series, offered up a new year and a new chance for Wout van Aert's rivals to show that he can be beaten.
The racers put on a show at the 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Within a lap, it was Van Aert, Eli Iserbyt, Toon Aerts and Tom Pidcock who looked to ride away with the podium spots.
Wout van Aert overcame a crash and changing both shoes to win the 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Michael Vanthourenhout soon made it a leading five.
With a slew of spectacular crashes, it certainly looked like the tough, muddy, rutted course could throw a wrench in Van Aert's undefeated season. But it was Toon Aerts, Corne van Kessel and then Pidcock who stumbled early on. Pidcock recovered from his minor slip-up, but Aerts and Van Kessel, who changed his helmet in the pits, never factored again.
Van Aert looked dominant in the second half of the race, but a slip of his front wheel sent him sliding for ten feet, and then looking down at his shoes.
Pidcock served up style and an exciting ride to finish second. 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Pidcock seized his chance, passed Van Aert before the pits, with Iserbyt close behind.
Van Aert swapped bikes and also a complete pair of shoes, giving a chance for Iserbyt to ride into second while Aert was changing all his treads.
Was Van Aert's undefeated streak over?
Pidcock powered away with two and a half laps to go, but Van Aert wasn't finished. He sprinted by Iserbyt, and closed the gap to Pidcock to under ten seconds with a lap to go.
For two laps, it looked like Pidockc's race to lose. 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Pidcock found the race one lap too long.
Pidcock trying to hold off Van Aert. 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Van Aert caught the British champ and then ran away on a run-up to stay undefeated.
Wout van Aert overcame a crash and changing both shoes to win the 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
https://twitter.com/X2OTrofee/status/1477306850718760964
Pidcock rolled in for second, with Iserbyt finishing third, gaining some time back on series leader Aerts.
Pidcock, Van Aert and Iserbyt. 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Photo gallery, highlights and results below.
https://twitter.com/X2OTrofee/status/1477315947207835653
2022 X²O Badkamers Trofee GP Sven Nys Baal Results: Elite Men
| Pl | Bib | Rider | Team | Time/Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 | VAN AERT Wout | Jumbo Visma | 1:04:22 |
| 2 | 23 | PIDCOCK Tom | Ineos Grenadiers | 0:10 |
| 3 | 25 | ISERBYT Eli | Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal | 0:29 |
| 4 | 29 | AERTS Toon | Baloise Trek Lions | 1:16 |
| 5 | 29 | VANTHOURENHOUT Michael | Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal | 1:58 |
| 6 | 23 | TURNER Ben | Ineos Grenadiers | 2:13 |
| 7 | 31 | VAN DER HAAR Lars | Baloise Trek Lions | 2:25 |
| 8 | 30 | ADAMS Jens | 2:44 | |
| 9 | 29 | SWEECK Laurens | Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal | 2:48 |
| 10 | 34 | MEEUSEN Tom | CX Team Deschacht - Group Hens - Maes Containers | 2:50 |
| 11 | 27 | ORTS LLORET Felipe | 4:08 | |
| 12 | 23 | MEIN Thomas | Tormans - Circus Cyclo Cross Team | 5:14 |
| 13 | 25 | LOOCKX Lander | CX Team Deschacht - Group Hens - Maes Containers | 5:22 |
| 14 | 27 | WHITE Curtis | Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld | 6:15 |
| 15 | 24 | ROMBOUTS Seppe | 7:37 | |
| 16 | 25 | JUNQUERA SAN MILLAN Mario | Unicaja Banco-Gijon | 7:41 |
| 17 | 23 | BEKAERT Yentl | Baloise Trek Lions | 7:54 |
| 18 | 23 | VRACHTEN Arne | 8:52 | |
| 19 | 24 | WUYTS Mathijs | 9:12 | |
| 20 | 26 | ALDERWEIRELD Robin | ||
| 21 | 24 | HECHT Gage | ||
| 22 | 28 | GROENEN Klaas | ||
| 23 | 30 | VAN DEN HAM Michael | ||
| 24 | 23 | HAMM Florian | Team Schamel p/b Kloster Kitchen | |
| 25 | 24 | THOMAS Victor | ||
| 26 | 38 | HAUSSLER Heinrich | ||
| 27 | 26 | DE MEYER Senne | ||
| 28 | 35 | JETTE Cameron | ||
| 29 | 31 | GINIAT Andrew | ||
| 30 | 23 | CAREME Grégory | ||
| 31 | 29 | HEIGL Philipp | ||
| 32 | 28 | LEARTS Yelle | ||
| 33 | 23 | BLOEM Joren | ||
| 34 | 25 | LANDO Nicholas | ||
| 35 | 33 | CLOUTIER Tyler | ||
| 36 | 31 | JACK Rory | ||
| 37 | 26 | TABURET Mathieu | ||
| 38 | 27 | HEYMES Gauthier | ||
| 39 | 26 | JUNGE Frederick | ||
| 40 | 23 | O'CONNOR Finnegan | ||
| 41 | 23 | BRUYNSEELS Greg | ||
| DNF | 31 | MAYER Yannick | ||
| DNF | 31 | VAN KESSEL Corné | Tormans - Circus Cyclo Cross Team |
2022 GP Sven Nys Elite Men Photo Gallery:
Pidcock served up style and an exciting ride to finish second. 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
