"My time on the road has made me more consistent" - Joris Nieuwenhuis reaps rewards of cross-discipline capabilities with victory at Superprestige Boom

Joris Nieuwenhuis was a relatively comfortable winner on Saturday afternoon at Superprestige Boom. Attacking clear early, the Dutchman managed to hold on to that advantage throughout the race.

“The explanation for this success? But one thing: my lower back is holding up well,” the Baloise - Trek Lions rider explained in his post-race interview. “All the races that I really didn't compete well in were races where my lower back hurt a lot. I have the feeling that we have now really solved that problem and that things are going very well in one go."

Although Cameron Mason threatened to get back into contention mid-race, Nieuwenhuis remained in control. “In the first lap, I already felt that I was very good. It came to a bit of a standstill and I know that I can continue to ride well for an entire cross, if I can ride my own lines and use my strength. So I thought I'd just start it and see who follows," he continues. "It went very well right away. I immediately had a very good focus too."

A big reason for his success this season is the added benefit of being a cross-discipline rider Nieuwenhuis believes. "I especially feel that my time on the road has made me more consistent throughout the season," he concludes. "On the other hand, if I look back at the time before I rode on the road, this was also the way to win a cross. Just drive well from start to finish.”