Toon Aerts has made an excellent start to his cyclocross season. In his comeback to the sport, the 31-year-old leader of Deschacht-Hens immediately claimed victory at the Kermiscross Ardooie. He defeated top favorite Michael Vanthourenhout in a two-man sprint. Joran Wyseure finished third.
The Kermiscross Ardooie is a standalone race, not connected to any season-long competition. Nevertheless, several big names took part. Among the men, Michael Vanthourenhout was the top favorite, but riders like Joran Wyseure and Toon Aerts were also at the start.
During the first lap, there was little action: a fairly large group stayed together. Vanthourenhout took the lead at one point, but it didn’t result in any significant break. The first real attack came midway through the race from Yordi Corsus. The teammate of Vanthourenhout at Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw opened a gap, but Aerts quickly closed it. The pace then slowed down again up front, allowing riders from the back to catch up. Fifteen riders started the last three laps.
Sprint between Aerts and Vanthourenhout
Wyseure then launched an acceleration, dropping some riders, but part of them managed to come back. At the sound of the bell, there was a leading group of eleven riders, including Wyseure, Vanthourenhout, Corsus, Aerts, Witse Meeussen, Gerben Kuypers, Felipe Orts, and Ryan Kamp. Early in the final lap, Meeussen set the pace, but Vanthourenhout took over strongly afterward. The only rider who could follow was Aerts. They would battle it out for the win.
In the end, it came down to a sprint. Aerts launched his sprint from far out and convincingly held off Vanthourenhout. That’s how the Deschacht-Hens rider started his cyclocross season with a victory. Vanthourenhout had to settle for second place. Wyseure joined the podium as the third finisher.
Kermiscross Ardooie| Rank | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 59:06 | |
| 2 | " | |
| 3 | " | |
| 4 | " | |
| 5 | " | |
| 6 | + 06 | |
| 7 | + 09 | |
| 8 | + 13 | |
| 9 | + 17 | |
| 10 | + 22 |
