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