"I just couldn't let anyone go": Pim Ronhaar has no regrets despite being overpowered by Belgians

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."

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."