“I saw my chance and went for it” – Niels Vandeputte delivers late knockout blow to Vanthourenhout in snowy Gullegem

Niels Vandeputte left Gullegem with far more than just a race win. By striking late on a snow-hit circuit and outmanoeuvring Michael Vanthourenhout in the final lap, the Belgian not only claimed one of the most tactically complex victories of the winter but also strengthened his hold on the Superprestige overall lead with just one round remaining.

The race itself had ebbed and flowed under changing conditions, with snowfall repeatedly reshaping the balance of power. After earlier moves from Gerben Kuypers were neutralised and Pauwels Sauzen–Altez Industriebouw controlled much of the middle phase through Vanthourenhout, Vandeputte resisted the temptation to force the issue too early. Instead, he stayed attentive as the front group reshuffled repeatedly in the closing laps.

That patience proved decisive. Vandeputte launched his winning move only in the final lap, first exploiting a short running section before accelerating again on a muddy stretch leading onto the bridge. Vanthourenhout could respond once, but not twice.

“It’s not easy to win a top-level cross this year because the level is so high,” Vandeputte said after the finish in quotes collected by Het Nieuwsblad. “When it does work during the Christmas period, it really means a lot.”

Vandeputte explained that the move had been forming in his mind laps earlier, rather than being a spontaneous gamble. “In the third to last lap I saw that I could run that little kink better. Michael hadn’t seen that, so I got into the lead,” he said. “He came back past me, but in a muddy section I had more speed, so I pushed on over the bridge and carried it through to the finish.”

That awareness was crucial in a race where snow showers, slush and intermittent grip punished any mistimed effort. While others were forced into defensive riding, Vandeputte managed to convert control into aggression at exactly the right moment.

Beyond the single victory, Gullegem also shifted the Superprestige picture. With Vanthourenhout again finishing close, the margins remain tight, but the balance still favours Vandeputte heading into the finale.

“I’m only three points ahead, so that’s not a luxury,” he said. “But I’d rather be leading than the other way around. There’s still one round to go, but I’m happy that I’m in front.”

In a winter defined by small differences and tactical discipline, Gullegem underlined why Vandeputte remains the rider to beat when the margins matter most.