Michael Vanthourenhout describes Koppenbergcross loss - "I felt I was running on empty"

The Koppenbergcross offered Michael Vanthourenhout a golden chance to win, but he failed to convert the opportunity into victory. Lars van der Haar and Eli Iserbyt overtook him in the final lap, leaving him in 3rd place.

"The disappointment is, of course, great,” Vanthourenhout told Spoza. He continues, “It was a super tough finish, and I felt I was running on empty. Moreover, this finish is really something for Lars. This hurts. I didn't immediately realize on the final lap that Lars had fallen, but then I rode full-on to the finish. It's a shame I can't finish.”

For most of the race, Iserbyt and Van der Haar battled it out for lead, and Vanthourenhout failed to challenge them. "I was really bad then and wasn't even able to follow riders. I then had to waste a lot of energy to get back to Eli and Lars. That ended up playing tricks on me in the closing stages,” said Vanthourenhout.

It is clear to him that Lars was superior to him and deserved to win. "I knew I had to start the last climb with at least ten seconds ahead, but it just didn't work out. Lars was just the best man in the race today. That he was still able to correct his mistake on the last lap is very strong," expressed the Belgian rider.

It is Sunday's European Championships that Vanthourenhout is focused on. "The past cross weekend was a little less, but today it went better again. I hope to continue this line to Sunday. Eli and Lars are the favourites, but a championship is always a special race. I just have to go for a podium, and then there is always more in it. But we'll see on Sunday,” concluded Vanthourenhout.