Joran Wyseure Stays Top Favorite at First Major Cyclocross Event in Meulebeke

Joran Wyseure claimed the first major cyclocross event of the new season. At the Exact Cross Meulebeke, the Crelan-Corendon rider finished ahead of his teammates Laurens Sweeck and Michael Vanthourenhout.

As usual, a duel was expected in Meulebeke between the Baloise Glowi Lions and Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw, as Jurgen Mettepenningen's team is now called. Their absolute cornerstones, European champion Thibau Nys and Eli Iserbyt respectively, were absent, but Michael Vanthourenhout, Lars van der Haar, and Pim Ronhaar were in the race. Also starting were riders like Laurens Sweeck, Niels Vandeputte, Joris Nieuwenhuis, Felipe Orts, and Toon Aerts.

Vanthourenhout takes the initiative
Vanthourenhout got off to the best start. The top favorite was the first to dive into the course, while Vandeputte and Van der Haar were in second and third positions respectively. Behind them, Ronhaar made a mistake, causing a big bottleneck and forcing him to change bikes. His compatriot Joris Nieuwenhuis took the lead after one lap. However, many riders were still on the Dutchman's wheel.

The Ridley Racing Team rider was also present when Toon Vandebosch accelerated. Vanthourenhout followed, while Cameron Mason and Jente Michels joined shortly after. As the pace slowed down, more riders were able to catch back up. So the large group stayed together for a long time. After four of the ten laps, twenty riders were still bunched tightly. At the end of the fifth lap, more separation occurred through an attack from Vanthourenhout.

Wyseure strikes
Riders passed through halfway, one by one, though the gaps were still bridgeable. Vandebosch and Nieuwenhuis could still follow on Vanthourenhout’s wheel, with a group of riders following later. Included in this group was Joran Wyseure, who then put in a strong effort. Shortly after, Sweeck, Orts, and Vanthourenhout broke away. Was this the decisive move?

No, because the pace slowed once again, resulting in the peloton regrouping. In the penultimate lap, Wyseure made a new attempt. This time, he seemed to have chosen the right moment, as he started the final lap with a lead. And he would not relinquish that advantage. Wyseure thus won the first televised cyclocross of the year. His teammate Sweeck crossed the line second, with Vanthourenhout finishing third.