"A few months ago, I would never have dared to dream of a victory" - Joris Nieuwenhuis wins Noordzeecross Middelkerke to achieve high point of difficult winter
Cyclocross
On Saturday, the Superprestige season concluded with the
Noordzeecross Middelkerke. A week after the World Championships in France,
Lucinda Brand and Niels Vandeputte secured the overall titles in cyclocross’s
oldest classification races.
Joris Nieuwenhuis, a 28-year-old rider and national champion
from 2024, has previously won a World Cup race and competed in the Tour de
France in 2020 and 2021. But in the 2024/25 season, he has struggled for form
as he suffered with shingles, leaving him unable to train and perform at high
levels.
Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad after the race, Nieuwenhuis
reflected on his victory. “I didn’t get it for free here,” he said. “I was in
the clutches of the men from Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel. I had some surplus before
the start of the final lap and so I was able to accelerate again. At the end I
started to struggle for a while, but in the final straight line I realized that
I had finally secured a victory.”
The leader of Ridley Racing Team had been in strong form
since his return at the recent National Championship, achieving podium finishes
at both that event and in the World Cup Maasmechelen. Last week, he secured
fourth place at the Cyclocross World Championships. With only a few races
remaining in the winter season, he was determined to claim a victory. "I
also knew that this course in Middelkerke suited me. This victory feels
great," he stated.
Reflecting on his journey, Nieuwenhuis expressed his
surprise at reaching this point. "It's hard to put that period into words.
A few months ago, I would never have dared to dream of a victory, at least not
this season," he admitted.
He will be delighted to have come to the end of a difficult
winter on high, by capitalising on the absence of Van der Poel and Van Aert to
secure his triumph on the day.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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parisbound0008-11-2026 - there needs to be space in life for pointless comments!Ketterechts08-11-2026
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