Cameron Mason Dreamed of First Major CX Win in Hamme: "Was really close today"

Cameron Mason came very close to victory in the X2O Badkamers Trofee in Hamme, but in the final lap, he had to concede to Belgian champion Thibau Nys. The Brit rode a very strong race in the Flandriencross and felt he could truly make the difference. "We were very evenly matched," he referred to his battle with Nys. "It could have gone either way."

"In the first two laps, I stayed calm. Midway, I accelerated," said Mason in his best Dutch, which he is currently learning. "I think Thibau and I had the best technique on this course, but Thibau just had a bit more in the last two minutes. That’s why I’m not just happy with this second place…"

Mason broke away from the rest halfway through the race, with only Nys able to close the gap. What followed was a duel until the final straight. Nys decided to accelerate multiple times in the finale. "I kept up at the limit, but at this level, I know you can’t afford mistakes. Up until that point, I was almost perfect, but in the last lap, I made two errors," said Mason. "It could have gone either way. Today the win was really close, so I need to let this sink in."

A victory in a major televised cyclocross still eludes Mason’s palmarès. Last year, he had a disappointing cyclocross season, but this year he’s frequently finishing in the top 10. "I start every race very calmly, and that’s how I wanted to begin this season as well. I am in control, and whatever comes from that, comes. In these kinds of races, I can show myself if I can truly focus on the race."