Michael Vanthourenhout breaks a 24-year-long curse at Belgian cyclocross season opener in Dendermonde
Cyclocross
Michael Vanthourenhout kicked off his 2026-27 cyclocross season in quite the style. After his triumph in Germany last weekend, the 32-year-old Belgian confirmed good form at the start of this winter with a win in Dendermonde Mosselcross. This victory holds a special meaning to team owner Jurgen Mettepenningen.
The fast course in Dendermonde favored tactical racing over raw power. For Vanthourenhout, this was a reality he had to adapt to over the first few laps, but eventually the former European champion pulled through and found an opening for himself in the final lap to escape a strong chasing group and cross the finish line with hands in the air.
For Pauwels Sauzen - Altez Industriebouw Cycling Team, there was a special motivation to perform. "Jurgen told me during the reconnaissance on Thursday that no rider from his team had ever won one of his races. I am happy to be the first," Vanthourenhout reveals after the race.
24 years of drought
Team owner Jurgen Mettepenningen organizes this race (among others). But a victory has been avoiding his own events like a plague for well over two decades.
"I started organizing the Bollekescross in Hamme in 2002, but I have had to wait until now for the first victory of one of my riders in a race I organize. I am very pleased," says Mettepenningen.
While as team manager Mettepenningen can be very pleased with a glance at the results sheet, from an organizer stand-point, the Belgian cyclo-cross season opener had not been a success. The goal was to attract (at least) 3,000 spectators to the route, but even that number seems to have been overestimated.
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Due to Eli Iserbyt's retirement last winter, it is for the first time in years that the Belgian cyclocross team enters the season with just one leader - Michael Vanthourenhout. In Dendermonde, his teammates Yordi Corsus and Gerben Kuypers (2nd and 4th) stepped up, but even Mettepenningen himself admits this might not be enough during the Christmas period, and admits that he'd not be opposed to sign another leading figure.
"Michael is a pillar of our team, but if there is an opportunity to bring someone else in, I will certainly do so," says Mettepenningen. "We are looking for riders with a good mindset and a winning mentality."
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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- oh boy, you're gargling with french balls now?? pogi going to be jealous.whkman11-10-2026
- Well if UAE the best team in history comes knocking their the only team in the world who can get Seixas. Seixas will become incredible there. Lets see if he stays at decathlon or goes to UAE.miguel11-10-2026
- Ahem, stage 16 of the 2025 Giro
Rafionain-Glas11-10-2026 - Can we get a comment from the UCI on this. The silence from Aigle is deafening! Come on cycling journalists , start annoying them to get a comment please.Paul53111-10-2026
- A shame to see him retire, I really liked him as a rider. His dignified tribute along with Matej Mohorovic to Gino Mader after his death was class and will always live in my memory. Enjoy your retirement.GregT11-10-2026
- A shame to see him retire, I really liked him as a rider. His dignified tribute along with Matej Mohorovic to Gino Mader after his death was class and will always live in my memory. Enjoy your retirement.GregT11-10-2026
- I thought Seixas had hit the end of the road from a fatigue standpoint, after the WC meltdown - and he still finished ok. This was impressive and an amazing return.mij11-10-2026
- totally, eating crow for breakfast this morning. after the world championships I thought we were looking at a late season fade from fatigue. way to go Paul!mij11-10-2026
- Pogi would have won the Vuelta at around 10 min. But it would have been boring for fools like you. Capish?PogiSloFans11-10-2026
- Rather than me describing the technology at length on here, If you google. Line-scan cameras. They are also sometimes called Slit-Scan cameras. Either search will fill you in. You can read all about how they. work. Enjoy! Just to be clear the cyclist is saying he wants to see exactly where the digital finish line is in relation to the actual physical finish. At this point we only have the word of the authority that the digital line corresponds to the exact starting edge of the physical finish line. That seems like a reasonable request to me.Prorodsandstuff11-10-2026
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