Joris Nieuwenhuis (Ridley Racing Crew) and Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon) have been left reflecting on a missed alternative after they podiumed on the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Terralba, Sardinia.
Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriedbouw) had the proper final lap ways as he held the entrance place and sprinted to victory after an in depth race.
Nieuwenhuis completed only a second behind as his seek for a second World Cup continues – his solely win coming in Val di Sole two years in the past.
“It was fairly a tough race ultimately as a result of I had an excellent feeling that me and Michael [Vanthourenhout] have been the very best within the race at the beginning,” mentioned Nieuwenhuis.
“We tried to get away nevertheless it was fairly laborious. I attempted to defend my place on a regular basis and hoped to do one thing within the final lap.
“Michael was a bit stronger, second. I feel Michael acquired a bit higher of a line and a bit higher legs. He simply acquired the higher of me ultimately.”
All of final weekend’s podium in Flamanville have been absent in Sardinia, with Nys joined on a coaching camp in Calpe by Baloise Glowi Lions team-mate Lars Van der Haar and Cameron Mason additionally sitting out this spherical.
Within the closing phases, a puncture at a key second ended Ronhaar’s probabilities because the main three rode clear.
Sweeck mentioned that the quick nature of the course meant that it was a ‘battle after each nook’ for place after he narrowly missed out on victory.
“It was only some seconds,” mentioned Sweeck as his seek for a primary World Cup win in three years continues.
“I used to be in an excellent place on the final lap, however ultimately it was a tactical transfer from Michael within the mud that made the distinction.
“It was only a case of sitting as ahead as potential, constantly. After which to waste as little vitality as potential.
“I most well-liked to take a seat first or second, however everybody thought the identical, and it was simply combating after each nook.
“In that final lap, I really made an excellent passage, however Joris [Nieuwenhuis] held again a bit, and I used to be caught on the skin and Michael [Vanthourenhout] comes by.
“And ultimately, that seems to be the decisive transfer. It was very tough to make an actual distinction at this time. On these lengthy sections, it at all times got here again collectively.”
Regardless of lacking the third spherical, Nys stays the World Cup collection chief heading into subsequent weekend’s fourth spherical in Namur.
“We now have not organised a coaching camp with the group ourselves, we solely do this for the World Championships,” he instructed Wielerflits
“We now have left every rider free to how they need to fill on this interval. It isn’t that each rider is essentially exhausted, however if you wish to get by the remainder of the season and the Christmas interval, that is the proper time to select up these lengthy endurance coaching periods once more.
“Each rider can use that, even when it is simply to cycle in higher climate. The physique responds higher to this and that promotes restoration. You actually should not underestimate how vital that’s for the cyclocross riders.
“It’s a must to make selections someplace, and I feel they’re primarily private. It’s a matter of deliberation the place you skip, and we make your best option for each rider.”