Cross titles for van Aert and Vos
While new British cyclo-cross champions Thomas Mein and Harriet Harnden were doing their thing in the mud at Ardingly last weekend, other nations around Europe were hosting their own championships.
The winners included cycling royalty such as Wout van Aert, who triumphed in Belgium after breaking away on the first lap of the sandy Middelkerke course. His compatriot Sanne Cant took her fourth consecutive title, winning, like van Aert, by more than a minute.
Marianne Vos was given a run for her money by reigning world champion Lucinda Brand in the Dutch title event, but ultimately went on to win by 20 seconds after distancing Brand midrace. The men’s race saw Lars van den Haar regain the title he last won in 2014. He has been on the podium every edition since – with Mathieu van der Poel the almost inevitable winner. With the latter absent this year due to a back injury, van den Haar didn’t need to be asked twice to take his opportunity.
OTHER NATIONAL TITLE WINNERS INCLUDED
Italy: Jakob Dorigoni (M);
Silvia Persico (F)
France: Joshua Dubau (M);
Line Berquier (F)
Switzerland: Kevin Kuhn (M); Alessandra Keller (F)
Spain: Felipe Orts Lloret (M); Lucíá Gonzalez Blanco (F)
Denmark: Simon Andreassen (M); Caroline Bohé (F)
Poland: Marek Konwa (M); Dominika Włodarczyk (F)
Ireland: Christopher Mcglinchey (M); Maria Larkin (F)
Austria: Daniel Federspiel (M); Nadja Heigl (F)
Hungary: Zsolt Búr (M); Blanka Kata Vas (F)
Portugal: Mario Costa (M);
Ana Sá Santas (F)
Germany: Marcel Meisen (M); Elisabeth Brandau (F)
Czech Republic: Michael Boros (M); Kristyna Zemanová (F)