Joris Nieuwenhuis takes first big cyclocross win as he flies through Superprestige Merksplas

Joris Nieuwenhuis took his first Elite cyclocross win earlier this season in a small American race, and today consolidated himself with the big first victory in Belgium. The Baloise - Trek Lions rider was the strongest at the Superprestige Merksplas race.

The muddy race was a classic Belgian cross. Muddy, technical, gruesome... A race where technique was more important than normal, gaps began to be created right from the start. Joris Nieuwenhuis and Niels Vandeputte made the difference through the very difficult sections and the field split all round.

Nieuwenhuis opened a gap on Vandeputte still on the first lap however, as Eli Iserbyt and Felipe Orts chased behind. The long sand section also proved very difficult for riders and saw further gaps created. Truly a race where there weren't many tactics to be used. The Dutchman opened a significant gap on the rest of the field as Orts came close to Vandeputte in the fight for second place. Laurens Sweeck and Gerben Kuypers chased on in the fight for fifth place.

Eli Iserbyt eventually managed to move into third place on lap 6 as Orts began to suffer, and to second place on the final lap. However the race was already in the hands of the Dutchman who has taken the biggest win of his career. Iserbyt and Vandeputte completed the podium.