This past Sunday was the World Cup in Maasmechelen. The race debuted in 2022 as a replacement for the canceled Rucphen event. Now in its second year, Maasmechelen seems to be hitting its stride. The crowd was a bit thinner, probably due to the rain, but still a strong showing. And there were fewer complaints about the track, thanks to a reported army of volunteers who cleared the course of rocks in the lead-up to the weekend.
Predictably, Fem dominated the women’s elite race, while fan favorite Lars van der Haar took the W on the men’s side. The men’s race also produced some interesting results for those of us who may be getting just a tad bored with the BEL/NED domination. Notably, Felipe Orts finished in 5th place, a mere 5 seconds off a podium spot and Cam Mason grabbed 8th, only 14 seconds behind Orts.
Great work Ethan!