We finally got some CX weather in Overijse. It was wet, it was cold, and it was muddy (is muddy a weather?). Both races were wildly entertaining. In the men’s race Pidcock blasted through the field and nearly took the win from Michael Vanthourenhout after a first lap crash. And in the women’s Pieterse rode one of those rare races where the leader just goes off the front but it’s super compelling despite the lack of a challenge.
The field tackles the red-carpeted stairs after the hole-shot. © Ethan Glading
Sara Casasola looks… concerned. © Ethan Glading
Puck Pieterse did not race Saturday in Merksplas and it seems to have paid off. © Ethan Glading
Canadian Sidney McGill is still Freadjusting to Europe after her impressive 2nd place at Pan-Ams. © Ethan Glading
Zoe Backstedt takes a knee. © Ethan Glading
Manon Bakker appeared to clip the post on the inside of the corner. She was able to continue her race. © Ethan Glading
Fem van Empel made some mistakes but still finished 2nd. As she said in Beekse Bergen “second is also good” © Ethan Glading
Shirin van Anrooij on her way to third place. © Ethan Glading
Ceylin Alvarado seemed disappointed with 5th place one day after her victory in Merksplas.. © Ethan Glading
Puck Pieterse. It was just a matter of time. © Ethan Glading
Clara Honsinger post race. Another top 10 for the American. © Ethan Glading
A Tormans mechanic makes the trek to the pits. Every mechanic comlains about the distance to the pits, but Overijse game them plenty to work with. © Ethan Glading
The materiaalpost in Overijse is at the highest point on the course. Seems Cruel. © Ethan Glading
Michael Vanthourenhout and teammate Eli Iserbyt tackle a muddy corner. © Ethan Glading
Tom Pidcock chasing Vanthourenhout. There were plenty of Pidcock supporters in the crowd urging him on. © Ethan Glading
A decent crowd out for a gray rainy day. © Ethan Glading
Another great result for Joris Nieuwenhuis, finishing 5th in Overijse. © Ethan Glading
Michael Vanthourenhout found the ruts, set the pace and made the fewest mistakes. © Ethan Glading
Michael Boroš checking (sorry) the gap to the chasers. © Ethan Glading
Tom Pidcock went from DFL to 2 seconds off the win. © Ethan Glading
Vanthourenhout wins. The course suited him but he was pushed hard by Pidcock. © Ethan Glading
Toon Vandenbosch rehydrating post-race. © Ethan Glading
Lars van der Haar interviewed after the race. © Ethan Glading
The men’s podium. Plus 1. © Ethan Glading
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