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.
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](https://www.cxmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-gp-sven-nys-baal-men-sf220101-23011-cxmagazine-bh_1.jpg)
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 a style and an exciting ride to finish second. 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine](https://www.cxmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-gp-sven-nys-baal-men-sf220101-23005-cxmagazine-bh_1.jpg)
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](https://www.cxmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-gp-sven-nys-baal-men-sf220101-23030-cxmagazine-bh_1.jpg)
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](https://www.cxmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-gp-sven-nys-baal-men-sf220101-23023-cxmagazine-bh_1.jpg)
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://www.cxmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-gp-sven-nys-baal-men-sf220101-23001-cxmagazine-bh_1.jpg)
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.
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 |