“I went in with my heart in my mouth” – Laurens Sweeck edges Vandeputte by barest of margins at Jaarmarktcross Niel for first win of the winter
Cyclocross
Two days after a frustrating European Championship left him well off the pace, Laurens Sweeck bounced back in style at Jaarmarktcross Niel, claiming his first victory of the season in the tightest of finishes. The Belgian rider snatched victory from Niels Vandeputte in a thrilling final sprint, sealing a fourth win at the event in six years.
Tactical chess match on the fast Niel circuit
The dry, fast Niel course lent itself to a tense tactical battle. For much of the race, Sweeck rode in a select lead group with Michael Vanthourenhout and Vandeputte, the trio steadily distancing the rest. When Jente Michels briefly joined mid-race, the pace surged, but it was Vandeputte who made the first major move — a stinging acceleration with three laps remaining that opened daylight on his rivals.
Sweeck and Vanthourenhout, both bruised from underwhelming displays in Middelkerke, combined to bring him back before Sweeck made his decisive push in the final lap. “It feels really good to be able to go deep and to be rewarded with a win,” said the former Belgian champion. “I was suffering, but as the race went on, I started to have better moments. Of course, you knew it was only going to be decided in the final lap.”
A sprint decided by inches
As the leaders hurtled towards the line, Sweeck positioned himself perfectly for the sprint. “I just had to give absolutely everything to be the first across the line — I didn’t care how much it hurt,” he said. “I had the feeling it was just enough. Niels isn’t slow either, and I preferred to take the final corner first, so I went in with my heart in my mouth.”
The photo finish confirmed Sweeck’s narrow triumph over Vandeputte, with Vanthourenhout rounding out the podium. It marked a timely confidence boost for the 31-year-old, who joked afterwards: “I don’t know what it is about this race. It’s always right after the Europeans — maybe I need to rethink that!”
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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