Results Bollekescross 2026 | Thibau Nys recovers from final-lap slip to win thrilling four-way sprint as Lucinda Brand doubles up

Thibau Nys has won the Bollekescross in Hamme-Zogge, coming through from eighth in the closing laps to beat Niels Vandeputte and Michael Vanthourenhout in a sprint. Racing in his European champion’s jersey, Nys led through the final corner and held on as the first three were credited with the same time. Lucinda Brand won the women’s race by two seconds from Sara Casasola, adding to her Superprestige victory in Merksplas the previous day.

Around 25 riders were still together after four laps of the men’s race. Vandeputte spent much of the middle of the race at the front before Joris Nieuwenhuis accelerated, with Vanthourenhout moving up to follow him. The Dutchman could not get clear and Joran Wyseure took over with three laps to go, stretching the group as Nys worked his way from eighth into third.

Vanthourenhout, who had crashed out at Merksplas on Saturday, shut the door when Nys tried to come through on the inside at the top of the steps. Nys found a way past him on the final lap, then slipped after trying to get by Wyseure at the barriers. The mistake gave Wyseure a few metres, but Nys closed the gap and slipped through on a left-hand bend. Vanthourenhout also got past Wyseure as Vandeputte stayed close enough to contest the finish.

Nys reached the asphalt first and kept the lead through the last corner. Vandeputte came through for second ahead of Vanthourenhout, with Wyseure fourth at one second. Gerben Kuypers, who took the 15-second bonus on the opening lap, finished fifth at seven seconds.

Casasola had to chase from the opening lap after a poor start. Denise Betsema split the lead group after three laps, opening a four-second gap before Brand caught her and went straight past. Betsema and Manon Bakker stayed with the world champion, while Casasola worked her way back to the front and Amandine Fouquenet rejoined before the bell.

Fouquenet accelerated into the last lap, but Casasola came through to lead the group into the field. Brand jumped past her over the barriers, pressed on through the washboard and gained several bike lengths on the descent. Casasola got back onto Brand’s wheel for the sprint, where Brand pulled clear again to extend her X²O Badkamers Trofee lead over the Italian.

Betsema crashed in the final corner while on course for third. Fouquenet took the last podium place, ten seconds behind Brand and two ahead of Bakker, with Betsema recovering to finish fifth.