"I just couldn't let anyone go": Pim Ronhaar has no regrets despite being overpowered by Belgians
Cyclocross
Pim Ronhaar was the man chosen to carry the Dutch flag highest during elite men's race at the European Cyclocross Championships in Middelkerke. Surrounded by Belgian rivals, the 24-year-old was faced with a difficult task, and ultimately a 4th place was the maximum possible for the rider of Baloise - Trek Lions.
"I had no choice," Ronhaar responded to the realization that he was constantly racing at the front, among the Belgians. "I couldn't let anyone go. Joran is very dangerous in moments like that, you can't let Thibau go, you can't let anyone go... I knew exactly what I had to do."
"When those others came back in the last two laps, I didn't panic either," he recounted for Sporza. "I knew what I had to do, where I had to be at the front. I did everything perfectly, and everything went smoothly. Until after that concrete section uphill, that little bit of sand, that's where I messed up."
"I was still in the race after that, but you know, it's going to be a sprint. It's just about getting to the finish as quickly as possible, but you've already used up quite a few cartridges. Toon rode a really good sand corner, so first and second place were gone."
Podium was close
The podium was still within a hand's reach, but Joran Wyseure was positioned better into the final straight and wasn't going to let the medal slip between his fingers. "I'd hoped to get past Joran for third, but you go through that last corner with so much speed. Then it's only a hundred meters left. I could never get back on track. I'm probably going to sleep badly. That last stretch of sand will probably haunt me a few times tonight."
How did Ronhaar go about sprinting for third place? "I was hoping I could still pass Joran, but like I said, it was only a hundred meters. If I'm ahead of Joran, I'll probably win that sprint, but yeah... it's a shame."
Ronhaar concluded by congratulating Toon Aerts on the victory. "He’s simply a very good cyclocross rider. It’s not easy after what he’s been through. I get along really well with Toon. We had a little bit of a scuffle on the last lap, but he probably understands that I can’t let him down there. That’s cyclocross. He’s a deserved and very worthy winner. Hats off to him. I hope he enjoys it. I wish him the best."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses 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.
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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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