"I think everyone saw that he was good. That makes his drop-out today extra strange" - Michael Vanthourenhout's DS about Maasmechelen

A surprising quitter, Sunday in Maasmechelen. European champion Michael Vanthourenhout could not complete the second World Cup cross of the season, despite a fast start.

Together with Pim Ronhaar, Vanthourenhout was one of the trendsetters at the start of the race. "Until suddenly the light shines. Michael started attacking, but as the cross progressed, he started making more and more mistakes. He already signaled to me a few times that 'it's really not possible'. Not much later he had to leave the race," sports director Robby Cobbaert explains to WielerFlits.

A day after the European champion took the podium in Ruddervoorde. "There was nothing wrong with it then. I think everyone saw that he was good at the race, because he set the pace together with Eli. That makes his drop-out today extra strange."

The team does not have an explanation yet. "The coming days will reveal what is going on. A one-off bad day is also possible, right? But Michael was already sick two weeks ago. This disease emerged just before and after America, and it remains somewhat dormant. But his training week was good. So we have to guess."

For the time being, the plan will remain as it was. "We hope to see the best Michael again at the Koppenberg and the European Championships. He is in shape and he'll find races that suit him."