Michael Vanthourenhout holds off challenge of Ronhaar and Sweeck to take impressive victory in Herentals

Michael Vanthourenhout has emerged victorious from a frantic and thrilling round of the X2O Badkammers Trofee in Herentals this Saturday afternoon, taking the winning ahead of Pim Ronhaar and Laurens Sweeck.

As this was a X2O Badkammers Trofee race, bonus seconds were on offer at the end of the first lap. A rampant Toon Aerts crossed the finish first to take the maximum bonuses for the overall X2O standings, 10 seconds clear of the chasing pack led by Eli Iserbyt. Iserbyt, pushing a little too hard in the chase, then came into difficulty on lap 2, hitting hard into one of the course marker poles. The acceleration had pulled back Aerts though, with Michael Vanthourenhout and Laurens Sweeck clear at the front at the end of lap 2.

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Over the course of the next couple of laps, both Pim Ronhaar, Niels Vandeputte and Jente Michels got back into contention with Vanthourenhout and Sweeck at the head of the race, forming a very strong five-man group at the front.

Although Ronhaar was trying hard to snap the elastic at the front, putting distance between himself and most of the lead group, Vanthourenhout was glued to the Baloise - Trek Lions star's back wheel, keeping himself in contention as the riders crossed the finish line for the end of lap 5. Sweeck also wasn't too far behind and midway through lap 6, re-attached himself to the leaders. 

As the eight and final lap began, the trio were still all locked together at the front. The first to try and make a move was Vanthourenhout, distancing Sweeck in the process. As the former European champion continued to put the hammer down, he soon had a clear advantage over Ronhaar too. As it turned out, the gap proved decisive too as the Belgian took the victory ahead of a brave Ronhaar in second. 

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