Don’t expect to see Michael Vanthourenhout at the X2O Trophy race in Hofstade. The leader of Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw finished ninth at the Koksijde World Cup on Sunday, but according to Het Nieuwsblad, he was ill. Around 9:30 pm on Sunday, he made the decision not to start Monday’s X2O Trophy race in Hofstade.
Vanthourenhout also has little to gain in the X2O Trophy standings—based on time. After three races (Koppenberg, Lokeren, and Hamme), he currently sits eighth, more than four and a half minutes behind leader Joris Nieuwenhuis. After the Vlaamse Duinencross in Koksijde, the nephew of Sven Vanthourenhout felt unwell and decided to withdraw from Hofstade. It is not yet known what impact this will have on his participation in the Superprestige race in Heusden-Zolder on Boxing Day.
