Alpecin-Deceuninck react to double podium at Rapencross Lokeren: "I am happy to bounce back and come second here"
Cyclocross
Alpecin-Deceuninck had a great day out at the Rapencross
Lokeren, as two of their riders made it to the podium behind the winner and
European Champion, Thbiau Nys. Whilst Mathieu van der Poel sits on the
sidelines for a little while longer, Niels Vandeputte and Jente Mitchels gave
the Alpecin team plenty to cheer about.
Speaking to Wielerflits, Vandeputte said, “Eli Iserbyt was
going for the seconds in the X2O classification, but I was able to hold my own
at the front and led for half a lap. After that, the leading group got a bit
bigger,” he said. “I made a mistake on a climb, which held up the rest. Thibau
Nys and Laurens Sweeck got a gap because of that, and I lost a few positions
myself.”
But Vandeputte didn’t let this mistake define his race, and
clawed his way back to the podium. “That wasn’t an ideal situation, but I was
able to move up later and get on the podium with Jente. With one and a half
laps to go, I took the lead and that’s how I was able to secure second place.”
The 24 year old went on to discuss how good of a day it was
for the team, as Jente Mitchels joined him on the podium. “Jente is even
younger than me and still promising. It’s nice that I can get on the podium
with him.”
The Superprestige in Niel is coming up on Monday, and this
result has built plenty of confidence for Vandeputte, as the 24 year old Belgian said, “I have a
positive feeling. Yesterday I was still riding in Rucphen. There I came fourth
and I was not satisfied, but I am happy to bounce back and come second here.
Tomorrow will be my third race of the weekend. I want to continue the positive
line there and fight for the podium.”
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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