Alpecin-Deceuninck rider rues missed opportunity in Exact Cross Essen: “I made a mistake”

Niels Vandeputte of Alpecin-Deceuninck looked set for victory in the Exact Cross Essen, controlling the race throughout. However, a slip in the final moments allowed Laurens Sweeck to overtake him and take the win.

“I had it under control the whole race, I never had the feeling: it's going too fast for me,” Vandeputte explained to Wielerflits. “I knew I wanted to do it in the last lap and I did. But yeah, I made a small mistake in the last corner. I slid away for a moment and had to move my right foot. When I wanted to push again, I pulled my left foot out of my pedal. Normally you just win here, if you get through the last corner first.”

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Vandeputte admitted his disappointment after losing out so close to the finish line. “I can’t help but be disappointed. I came here to win and I think I could have won. But hey, this is part of it. Fortunately, there’s a new chance tomorrow,” he said, referring to the cross in Ruddervoorde, the first round of the Superprestige.

Reflecting on his mistake, Vandeputte added, “I could have corrected my first small mistake, but because I pulled my other foot out of the pedal, it was all over. Too bad. I pushed as hard as I could, but Sweeck came from behind with more speed. There wasn’t much you could do about that.”

Despite the setback, Vandeputte found some consolation in his overall performance. "I made a mistake at the end. That was a shame of course. In the end I can be satisfied with my race and second place, but I was very close to winning."