While some Euros made an early trip to the U.S. to pick up C1 points in Rochester, riders in Europe got one chance to race ahead of the U.S. World Cups at Ethias Cross Eeklo.
If the series sounds unfamiliar, Ethias is the new sponsor of the series formerly known as the Brico Cross.
In the Women’s race in Eeklo, it was Maud Kaptheijns (Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal) taking the win. Bogense U23 Worlds winner Inge van der Heijden (CCC – Liv) took second and Anna Kay (Experza Pro CX) finished third.
The race marked the return of Jolien Verschueren (Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal), who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2018.
In the Men’s race, Laurens Sweeck (Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal) one-upped his brother Diether by winning in Eeklo. Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal) took second and Quinten Hermans (Telenet Baloise Lions) third.
Elite Women Results: 2019 Ethias Cross Eeklo
| Rank | BIB | Last Name | First Name | Country | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | KAPTHEIJNS | Maud | NED | 0:41:53 |
| 2 | 3 | VAN DER HEIJDEN | Inge | NED | 0:41:55 |
| 3 | 33 | KAY | Anna | GBR | 0:41:58 |
| 4 | 30 | SELS | Loes | BEL | 0:42:24 |
| 5 | 14 | VAN ANROOIJ | Shirin | NED | 0:42:31 |
| 6 | 4 | VERDONSCHOT | Laura | BEL | 0:43:01 |
| 7 | 2 | VAN LOY | Ellen | BEL | 0:43:11 |
| 8 | 31 | FRANCK | Alicia | BEL | 0:43:11 |
| 9 | 12 | BAKKER | Manon | NED | 0:43:25 |
| 10 | 6 | DE BOER | Sophie | NED | 0:43:58 |
| 11 | 17 | VAN ANROOIJ | Lindy | NED | 0:44:18 |
| 12 | 9 | VAN DE STEENE | Kim | BEL | 0:44:28 |
| 13 | 8 | TRUYEN | Marthe | BEL | 0:44:43 |
| 14 | 15 | GOOSSENS | Veerle | NED | 0:44:43 |
| 15 | 29 | VAN DE REE | Monique | NED | 0:44:43 |
| 16 | 10 | NORBERT RIBEROLLE | Marion | FRA | 0:44:46 |
| 17 | 11 | VERHESTRAETEN | Karen | BEL | 0:45:45 |
| 18 | 22 | VAN DER BURG | Esther | NED | 0:46:13 |
| 19 | 25 | DELHAYE | Pauline | FRA | 0:46:13 |
| 20 | 16 | NOMDEN | Isa | NED | 0:46:37 |
| 21 | 26 | BELLAERT | Axelle | BEL | 0:47:06 |
| 22 | 24 | CRABBÉ | Kiona | BEL | 0:47:25 |
| 23 | 20 | DEVIGNE | Camille | FRA | -1 LAP |
| 24 | 18 | VAN WATERSCHOOT | Famke | NED | -1 LAP |
| 25 | 19 | DE BRUYNE | Meg | BEL | -1 LAP |
| 26 | 35 | VAN DE PUTTE | Kim | BEL | -2 LAPS |
| 27 | 21 | VAN LOY | Tess | BEL | -2 LAPS |
| 28 | 7 | VERSCHUEREN | Jolien | BEL | -3 LAPS |
| 29 | 34 | SCHOON | Lisette | NED | -4 LAPS |
| 30 | 23 | BLANCHAERT | Jo | BEL | -4 LAPS |
Elite Men Results: 2019 Ethias Cross Eeklo
| Rank | BIB | Last Name | First Name | Country | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | SWEECK | Laurens | BEL | 1:01:18 |
| 2 | 10 | ISERBYT | Eli | BEL | 1:01:22 |
| 3 | 5 | HERMANS | Quinten | BEL | 1:01:24 |
| 4 | 1 | AERTS | Toon | BEL | 1:01:24 |
| 5 | 12 | SOETE | Daan | BEL | 1:01:27 |
| 6 | 2 | VANTHOURENHOUT | Michael | BEL | 1:01:31 |
| 7 | 11 | ADAMS | Jens | BEL | 1:01:34 |
| 8 | 13 | MEEUSEN | Tom | BEL | 1:01:45 |
| 9 | 14 | AERNOUTS | Jim | BEL | 1:01:49 |
| 10 | 8 | VERMEERSCH | Gianni | BEL | 1:02:17 |
| 11 | 3 | VAN DER HAAR | Lars | NED | 1:02:17 |
| 12 | 6 | VAN KESSEL | Corne | NED | 1:02:49 |
| 13 | 15 | CLEPPE | Nicolas | BEL | 1:02:58 |
| 14 | 16 | AERTS | Thijs | BEL | 1:03:14 |
| 15 | 17 | VANTHOURENHOUT | Dieter | BEL | 1:03:14 |
| 16 | 28 | GOEMAN | Andreas | BEL | 1:03:14 |
| 17 | 40 | CAMPS | Jelle | BEL | 1:03:32 |
| 18 | 18 | GODRIE | Stan | NED | 1:03:32 |
| 19 | 31 | BELLENS | Jarno | BEL | 1:03:48 |
| 20 | 22 | BEKAERT | Yentl | BEL | 1:03:59 |
| 21 | 19 | MERLIER | Braam | BEL | 1:04:34 |
| 22 | 27 | DEWULF | Maxim | BEL | 1:04:46 |
| 23 | 30 | VANDEBOSCH | Victor | BEL | 1:04:53 |
| 24 | 39 | VLIEGEN | Pieter-Jan | BEL | 1:04:53 |
| 25 | 36 | DEBEIR | Arno | BEL | 1:04:53 |
| 26 | 25 | VRACHTEN | Arne | BEL | 1:05:12 |
| 27 | 50 | MEIN | Thomas | GBR | 1:05:20 |
| 28 | 35 | VERVOORT | Wout | BEL | 1:05:25 |
| 29 | 42 | VANDEPUTTE | Niels | BEL | 1:05:32 |
| 30 | 52 | KOPECKÝ | Tomas | CZE | 1:05:37 |
| 31 | 32 | ALDERWEIRELD | Robin | BEL | 1:05:40 |
| 32 | 44 | RONHAAR | Pim | NED | 1:05:50 |
| 33 | 37 | VERBURG | Luke | NED | 1:05:52 |
| 34 | 20 | PEMEN | Dolf | BEL | 1:06:10 |
| 35 | 51 | VAN TICHELT | Yorben | BEL | -2 LAPS |
| 36 | 41 | STEHLI | Felix | SUI | -3 LAPS |
| 37 | 34 | CORTJENS | Ryan | BEL | -3 LAPS |
| 38 | 48 | BONNE | Jenko | BEL | -4 LAPS |
| 39 | 29 | DE WIT | Edwin | BEL | -6 LAPS |
| 40 | 49 | CLAUWAERT | Maarten | BEL | -7 LAPS |
| 41 | 43 | EHLERT | Marco | NED | -7 LAPS |
| 42 | 21 | ARTZ | Bart | NED | -8 LAPS |
| 43 | 47 | OGER | Vincent | BEL | -8 LAPS |
| 44 | 33 | HEYMES | Gauthier | FRA | -9 LAPS |
| DNF | 23 | TIELEN | Dario | BEL | |
| DNF | 46 | LAEVENS | Justin | BEL |
