Now that both Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) have warmed up to the season, it seems they’re back to fighting for first.
This time, Van Aert triumphed over Van der Poel and took the victory in this beautiful, muddy course.
🎥 Mathieu van der Poel verkent het parcours van Herentals Crosst. Geniet van het geluid van de piepende remmen 😄👂 #X2OBadkamersTrofee #HerentalsCrosst pic.twitter.com/r1U5HrigI4
— X²O Badkamers Trofee (@X2OTrofee) December 23, 2020
Van der Poel had an early lead, but on the fourth lap, his 10-second advantage turned into a 20-second disadvantage due to an untimely flat far from the pits.
Van Aert came in first, Van der Poel second and Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) third. Meanwhile, Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) is still leading in overall points.
🥇 Wout van Aert
🥈 Mathieu van der Poel
🥉 Michael Vanthourenhout🏆 Eli Iserbyt#X2OBadkamersTrofee #herentalscrosst pic.twitter.com/z8TKcEcR9X
— X²O Badkamers Trofee (@X2OTrofee) December 23, 2020
It seems, with Van Aert and Van der Poel back, the champions from just a few weeks ago are beginning to fight for third now.
Two North Americans showed up today. Curtis White came in 26th and Canadian Michael van den Ham came in 37th.
Full results below.
X2O Trophy Herentals Results: Elite Men
| Rank | BIB | Rider | Nation | Team | Age | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | VAN AERT Wout | BEL | 26 | 0:58:13 | |
| 2 | 1 | VAN DER POEL Mathieu | NED | ALPECIN - FENIX | 25 | 0:58:48 |
| 3 | 5 | VANTHOURENHOUT Michael | BEL | PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | 27 | 0:59:45 |
| 4 | 4 | AERTS Toon | BEL | TELENET BALOISE LIONS | 27 | 1:00:28 |
| 5 | 2 | ISERBYT Eli | BEL | PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | 23 | 1:00:31 |
| 6 | 3 | SWEECK Laurens | BEL | PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | 27 | 1:00:39 |
| 7 | 8 | HERMANS Quinten | BEL | TORMANS CYCLO CROSS TEAM | 25 | 1:00:51 |
| 8 | 6 | VAN DER HAAR Lars | NED | TELENET BALOISE LIONS | 29 | 1:01:01 |
| 9 | 7 | VAN KESSEL Corne | NED | TORMANS CYCLO CROSS TEAM | 29 | 1:01:03 |
| 10 | 12 | VERMEERSCH Gianni | BEL | CREDISHOP-FRISTADS | 28 | 1:01:38 |
| 11 | 10 | KAMP Ryan | NED | PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | 20 | 1:01:49 |
| 12 | 29 | MEIN Thomas | GBR | TORMANS CYCLO CROSS TEAM | 21 | 1:02:03 |
| 13 | 17 | SOETE Daan | BEL | GROUP HENS - MAES CONTAINERS | 26 | 1:02:07 |
| 14 | 9 | ORTS LLORET Felipe | ESP | TEIKA-BH-GSPORT | 25 | 1:02:19 |
| 15 | 19 | SWEECK Diether | BEL | CREDISHOP-FRISTADS | 27 | 1:02:33 |
| 16 | 37 | KUHN Kevin | SUI | TORMANS CYCLO CROSS TEAM | 22 | 1:02:33 |
| 17 | 32 | RONHAAR Pim | NED | PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | 19 | 1:02:35 |
| 18 | 21 | VAN DER POEL David | NED | ALPECIN - FENIX | 28 | 1:02:38 |
| 19 | 18 | RÜEGG Timon | SUI | 24 | 1:02:38 | |
| 20 | 14 | AERTS Thijs | BEL | TELENET BALOISE LIONS | 24 | 1:03:06 |
| 21 | 46 | FERDINANDE Anton | BEL | PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | 20 | 1:03:11 |
| 22 | 11 | MERLIER Tim | BEL | ALPECIN - FENIX | 28 | 1:03:17 |
| 23 | 28 | ROUILLER Loris | SUI | ALPECIN - FENIX | 20 | 1:03:29 |
| 24 | 20 | MEEUSEN Tom | BEL | GROUP HENS - MAES CONTAINERS | 32 | 1:03:37 |
| 25 | 25 | LOOCKX Lander | BEL | GROUP HENS - MAES CONTAINERS | 23 | 1:03:40 |
| 26 | 13 | WHITE Curtis | USA | 25 | 1:03:47 | |
| 27 | 22 | AERNOUTS Jim | BEL | TELENET BALOISE LIONS | 31 | 1:03:56 |
| 28 | 43 | VAN DIJKE Tim | NED | 20 | 1:04:03 | |
| 29 | 39 | SIEBENS Gianni | BEL | 22 | 1:04:08 | |
| 30 | 27 | CLEPPE Nicolas | BEL | TELENET BALOISE LIONS | 25 | 1:04:10 |
| 31 | 16 | SUAREZ FERNANDEZ Kevin | ESP | NESTA - SKODA ALECAR CX TEAM | 26 | 1:04:24 |
| 32 | 60 | WYSEURE Joran | BEL | 19 | 1:04:42 | |
| 33 | 62 | NYS Thibau | BEL | TELENET BALOISE LIONS | 18 | 1:04:50 |
| 34 | 31 | WEBER Sascha | GER | 32 | 1:06:10 | |
| 35 | 50 | GUILLAUD Valentin | FRA | 23 | 1:06:23 | |
| 36 | 63 | VERSTRYNGE Emiel | BEL | TORMANS CYCLO CROSS TEAM | 18 | 1:06:39 |
| 37 | 23 | VAN DEN HAM Michael | CAN | 28 | 1:06:55 | |
| 38 | 58 | DE BIE Sean | BEL | 29 | 1:07:06 | |
| 39 | 44 | PHILIBERT Aurélien | FRA | ARDENNES CROSS TEAM | 25 | 1:07:11 |
| 40 | 41 | VRACHTEN Arne | BEL | 21 | 1:07:38 | |
| 41 | 47 | MAINGUENAUD Tom | FRA | 20 | 1:07:55 | |
| 42 | 65 | ALDERWEIRELD Robin | BEL | 24 | 1:08:14 | |
| 43 | 70 | BAERS Arne | BEL | 18 | 1:08:51 | |
| 44 | 38 | JUNQUERA SAN MILLAN Mario | ESP | 23 | -1 LAP | |
| 45 | 45 | MORICHON Mathieu | FRA | 25 | -1 LAP | |
| 46 | 51 | DEJONGHE Len | BEL | GROUP HENS - MAES CONTAINERS | 20 | -1 LAP |
| 47 | 53 | GILLES Cyprien | FRA | 20 | -1 LAP | |
| 48 | 57 | JOT Hugo | FRA | ARDENNES CROSS TEAM | 19 | -1 LAP |
| 49 | 54 | REMONDET Valentin | FRA | A.S BIKE CROSSTEAM | 21 | -1 LAP |
| 50 | 69 | GYS Jens | BEL | 31 | -1 LAP | |
| 51 | 52 | TROPARDY Arthur | FRA | 29 | -1 LAP | |
| 52 | 68 | GACHIGNARD Thomas | FRA | TEAM PODIOCOM CC | 20 | -2 LAPS |
| 53 | 40 | VAN DEN BROECK Arno | BEL | 20 | -2 LAPS | |
| 54 | 67 | HAUSSLER Heinrich | AUS | 36 | -2 LAPS | |
| 55 | 75 | SALOMEZ Ydris | BEL | PROXIMUS - ALPHAMOTORHOMES - DOLTCINI CT | 19 | -2 LAPS |
| 56 | 74 | LAEVENS Justin | BEL | PROXIMUS - ALPHAMOTORHOMES - DOLTCINI CT | 19 | -3 LAPS |
| 57 | 66 | OGER Vincent | BEL | 26 | -4 LAPS | |
| 26 | VANTHOURENHOUT Dieter | BEL | PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | 35 | DNF | |
| 33 | VANDEBOSCH Toon | BEL | PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | 21 | DNF | |
| 34 | HENDRIKX Mees | NED | CREDISHOP-FRISTADS | 20 | DNF | |
| 36 | ROMBOUTS Seppe | BEL | 22 | DNF | ||
| 59 | VERVOORT Wout | BEL | 19 | DNF | ||
| 61 | AUFFRET Ronan | FRA | TEAM PODIOCOM CC | 19 | DNF | |
| 71 | VAN CAMPENHOUT Jetze | BEL | GROUP HENS - MAES CONTAINERS | 18 | DNF | |
| 73 | PEMEN Dolf | BEL | PROXIMUS - ALPHAMOTORHOMES - DOLTCINI CT | 20 | DNF |
