Round 11 at Namur. The course was damp, muddy and very slippery.
Some good British results in the earlier races, Zoe Bäckstedt won the junior women's event by more than a minute, Max Greensill finished 5th in the junior men's, and Cam Mason was 5th in the u23.
No Marianne Vos today, and the podium was settled in the first few minutes as Lucinda Brand, Denise Betsema and Puck Pieterse built a lead. Soon, there were gaps between them as well, with Brand riding superbly at the front and Betsema also pulling away. There was a group battling for fourth, and Fem van Empel got a small lead, but lost it as she fell on the off-camber section. As the race went on, Betsema seemed to be closing on Brand, but not quickly enough to be a threat unless Brand had a major problem. No problem happened, and Brand won comfortably with Betsema second and Pieterse third. Fourth place came down to a sprint between van Empel and Ceylin Alvarado, which van Empel won.
British results: Anna Kay 20th, Amira Mellor 35th, Xan Crees 45th (lapped).
No van Aert today, which must have encouraged the other riders. A large group stayed together, with Quinten Hermans and Toon Aerts at the front. Aerts got a gap as Tom Pidcock moved up to third after starting on the third row. By mid-race, Pidcock had taken second place and was catching Aerts with Michael Vanthourenhout third. Hermans broke a shoe and dropped back. As Pidcock caught Aerts, Aerts had a puncture and was forced to slow. Vanthourenhout moved into second place. Aerts managed to ride round to the pits and changed bikes, and was still in third. Pidcock fell on the off-camber, and Vanthourenhout took the lead. With two laps left, the gap was only a couple of seconds, but Pidcock fell again and the lead increased. On the final lap, Pidcock seemed to realise that he couldn't win, and settled for a comfortable second as Vanthourenhout deservedly won. He was the only one of the leading riders not to have any serious problems. Aerts was third.
British results: Pidcock 2nd, Thomas Mein 15th, Ben Turner 19th.
Some good British results in the earlier races, Zoe Bäckstedt won the junior women's event by more than a minute, Max Greensill finished 5th in the junior men's, and Cam Mason was 5th in the u23.
No Marianne Vos today, and the podium was settled in the first few minutes as Lucinda Brand, Denise Betsema and Puck Pieterse built a lead. Soon, there were gaps between them as well, with Brand riding superbly at the front and Betsema also pulling away. There was a group battling for fourth, and Fem van Empel got a small lead, but lost it as she fell on the off-camber section. As the race went on, Betsema seemed to be closing on Brand, but not quickly enough to be a threat unless Brand had a major problem. No problem happened, and Brand won comfortably with Betsema second and Pieterse third. Fourth place came down to a sprint between van Empel and Ceylin Alvarado, which van Empel won.
British results: Anna Kay 20th, Amira Mellor 35th, Xan Crees 45th (lapped).
No van Aert today, which must have encouraged the other riders. A large group stayed together, with Quinten Hermans and Toon Aerts at the front. Aerts got a gap as Tom Pidcock moved up to third after starting on the third row. By mid-race, Pidcock had taken second place and was catching Aerts with Michael Vanthourenhout third. Hermans broke a shoe and dropped back. As Pidcock caught Aerts, Aerts had a puncture and was forced to slow. Vanthourenhout moved into second place. Aerts managed to ride round to the pits and changed bikes, and was still in third. Pidcock fell on the off-camber, and Vanthourenhout took the lead. With two laps left, the gap was only a couple of seconds, but Pidcock fell again and the lead increased. On the final lap, Pidcock seemed to realise that he couldn't win, and settled for a comfortable second as Vanthourenhout deservedly won. He was the only one of the leading riders not to have any serious problems. Aerts was third.
British results: Pidcock 2nd, Thomas Mein 15th, Ben Turner 19th.