“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

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.

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.”

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!”