Among American fans Belgian cyclocross has something of a reputation for being connected with the construction and heavy industry sectors. The Exact Cross series race in Beringen does absolutely nothing to dispel this image. If anything it doubles down.
The race takes place on the former site of a large mining operation (now a shopping center, entertainment venue and museum) and the course itself goes up, halfway back down, back up, and then all the way down an enormous slag heap, or terrill in Flemish. The amount of climbing is absolutely brutal and halfway through the first lap many riders are audibly struggling.
For the second week in a row the Sauces swept the top step with van Empel repeating and Iserbyt scoring his first W. A few notable riders made their season debut including Lucinda Brand (2nd), Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (5th) and Thibau Nys with a very strong 6th place finish.