Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal manager looks back at disastrous start to CX season: "Let’s hope that we are spared from bad luck from now on"
Cyclocross
One of the cyclocross giants, Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal is still waiting for a first big victory this season. Remarkable, considering that they have been the dominant force in the cross in recent years. Despite having the likes of Michael Vanthourenhout and Eli Iserbyt among their ranks, the luck seems to be evading the Belgian team.
That's in particular case for Iserbyt who's had a start to this winter to forget. There was that little stomping incident with Ryan Kamp, then a beer thrower, and then last Sunday that collision with a photographer who leaned too far over the fence. Another unfortunate incident that may have cost Iserbyt the victory in Hamme.
At the very least, the photographer in question came to apologize after the race, as team boss Jurgen Mettepenningen confirmed afterwards. "He admitted that it was an unconscious action," he said to Sporza about the incident.
Mettepenningen would like to make something clear to the public. "The wrinkles have been ironed out, but I would like to call on everyone to stay behind the fence of the course to avoid such incidents in the future," he said.
But that big win is not coming for Iserbyt, partly because of these kinds of bad luck moments. "It is a shame that we keep encountering these small setbacks. They decide whether to win or lose. You can’t ignore that, let’s hope that we are spared from bad luck and can come out with another win."
Incidentally, Iserbyt does not seem to suffer any serious damage from his tumble. "The shoulder does feel a bit painful, but fortunately it is on the side. So the collarbone remains undamaged. It will still be difficult for two days, but I don't think it will have a big impact on the next races," said the Belgian champion.
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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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