European champion Michael Vanthourenhout was on fire during the cold battle in the snow of Val di Sole and took the win with a strong solo! 💥 #CXWorldCup
Niels Vandeputte delighted after first podium finish at Cyclocross World Cup: "This means a lot to me”
CyclocrossSunday, 18 December 2022 at 13:00
Crossing the Val di Sole finish line by doing a wheelie, Niels Vandeputte could barely contain his delight. “I've been on the podium in elite races in the last two years, but in a World Cup race, on a lap like this, it's unbelievable. I am very, very happy,”
With only Michael Vanthourenhout in front of Vandeputte, the Belgian took second spot at the snow cross, achieving a podium finish at a UCI World Cup event for the very first time. In his post-race interview, Vandeputte discussed how his pre-race preperation set him up perfectly. “I had a lot of confidence during the reconnaissance. And during the first two rounds I also had that feeling on the ice and snow.”
Getting off to an excellent start, Vandeputte and Vanthourenhout were neck and neck for a period. Despite his happiness at achieving his first podium, the Belgian admits there is a tinge of disappointment that he wasn't able to secure a victory.
"It was important to be in the front because you couldn't see the tracks very well in second position. Together with Michael I made a hole. He managed to get a gap on me as well, after which I had a crash and a puncture," he said. " I had to let him go. I don't mean that I could have followed him differently, but then it might have been a better fight. Still, I am happy that I was able to keep the pace and finish second.”
claps 0visitors 66
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- A champion turning into a sore loser. Or is he on coke again?
UltimateOpportunist23-12-2024 - If you look at the major races they’ve both been in, van der Poel had the early edge as lately Pogacar has had the advantage. It’s all on procyclingstats.RidesHills23-12-2024
- I wouldn’t assume Tadej can’t win at cross. He did a cross race, not a World Cup, a few years ago and crushed the field. It was a minor race. But he can win anywhere.mij23-12-2024
- I wonder what would happen if Pogacar attacked on the Cipressa instead of the Poggio in San Remo? Would MvdPoel still be able to follow?Ride197423-12-2024
- Debatable?Ride197423-12-2024
- The point is obvious: MVDP can beat Tadej on CX/Road and Tadej cannot. What is so hard to understand???averagecyclist22-12-2024
- Funny... one doper enabler backing the doper he enabled ! Who would have guessed.frieders322-12-2024
- Wouldn’t be here if I wasn’tMistermaumau22-12-2024
- So you're bored, got itvappaxbipmv22-12-2024
- Does everything need to have a point? If so, 99% of the internet should be wiped away. In relation to recent articles with quotes from other riders, my statement points to the ever more obvious reason why they are asked to comment on the effect of his return.Mistermaumau22-12-2024