"Cameron didn’t do anything wrong" - Michael Vanthourenhout apologizes to Cmaeron Mason after Noordzeecross altercation
Cyclocross
The Noordzeecross Middelkerke, which took place this Thursday evening, was overshadowed by the string of incidents between Michael Vanthourenhout and Cameron Mason, including a post-race altercation. The Belgian rider has now revealed that he apologized to the British champion.
The second round of the Superprestige Cup was an important race for both riders, but specially Vanthourenhout - the leader of the cup; and last year's runner-up behind Niels Vandeputte.
In a fast and technical race, each mistake could've proven costly, as the track did not allow for major differences to be created. During the race, Mason made a high-risk move to overtake Vanthourenhout in a corner, which the two touching shoulders, before Vanthourenhout went down.
Later on, after Mason also suffered a mishap, Vanthourenhout appeared aggressive when overtaking Mason. The two were not seeing eye to eye, but after crossing the finish line the situation escalated.
Vanthourenhout, second behind Joran Wyseure, was unhappy with the incident and might have lost the race due to it. He pushed Mason in the finishing area, and the two had a heated exchange before going their separate ways.
Michael Vanthourenhout and Cameron Mason exchange words at the Noordzeecross Middelkerke
"It played a role in the result, but that's part of racing. I kept giving everything. Something like that happens in the moment," Vanthourenhout had said in a post-race interview. "You know your race is over if you go down there. I'm disappointed but also happy with the podium."
Cameron Mason's post-race comment
Mason took to Instagram to post a story in which he reflected on his fourth place. Alongside it, he wrote: "Something, something, "own medicine", something, something".
The British cyclocross national champion referred to the expression 'a taste of your own medicine', which refers to receiving the same treatment that you have previously inflicted on someone else - potentially referring to a past incident.
Michael Vanthourenhout apologizes to Cameron Mason
However, the dispute might have come to a close. This weekend, both riders will take part in the European Championships, taking place in Zeddam, the Netherlands. In a press conference, Vanthourenhout admitted he was in the wrong.
“I rewatched the footage myself and saw that Cameron didn’t do anything wrong,” Vanthourenhout said during the European Championships' press conference this Friday, as reported by Wielerflits.
“I immediately sent Cameron a message to apologize, and he accepted. As far as I’m concerned, that chapter is closed," he added.
Both riders will be amongst the favourites to win this Sunday's race. As for the Superprestige Cup, its third round will take place in Niel on the 11th of November.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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