Results Superprestige Merksplas - Aardbeiencross 2026 - Vandeputte seals first win of the season, Vanthourenhout crashes out and Brand bounces back
Cyclocross
Niels Vandeputte took his first win of the season on Saturday at Superprestige Merksplas - Aardbeiencross with a phenomenal sprint to the line. Meanwhile, Lucinda Brand returned to winning ways in the elite women's race with a final lap demonstration in Belgium.
In the elite men's race, Michael Vanthourenhout looked to establish himself early in the race following his European Championships disappointment. A fast course, riders had eleven laps to contend with that featured a difficult sand pit, technical turns and plenty of flat sections to keep the pace high.
Vanthourenhout unfortunately crashed on lap four, appearing in distress after seemingly falling on his arm in a tangle. He went down with two other riders in a technical corner while a group of around 20 riders were competing for position on the narrow course. He appeared in severe pain as officials helped him off the course, ending his race.
The following laps saw Joris Nieuwenhuis, Niels Vandeputte, Yordi Corsus and Felipe Orts traded stints at the front as the speed of the course ensured that a large pack of riders jostled at the front into the final laps.
On lap eight, Vandeputte was the first to really threaten breaking away from the bunch after an impressive tackling of the stand, strigning out the group as the big hitters began to make their plays.
Elite men's race comes down to high-octane finale
At the end of lap nine, Corsus made his move as he forged a gap of over five seconds on a technical climb and put the hammer down afterwards to start the penultimate lap with a gap over Joran Wyseure, Vanderputte and Orts among the main chasers.
Wyseure cracked the whip as seven leaders came over the line together for the final lap. In the final parts of the lap, the Belgian kept the pace high as only Vandeputte could hold his wheel with Orts behind. In the sprint, Vandeputte put in a phenomenal sprint to come round his compatriot and take his first win of the season.
In the elite women's race, Lucinda Brand left it late but secured victory with a dominant final lap. With Fem van Empel finding her groove as she continues her gradual return to form, world champion Brand used a deep and technical sand pit to make the difference and maintain pressure.
The 37-year-old also used climbs and some technical corners to etch out a lead of just a handful of seconds over Inge van der Heijden in second and Italian champion Sara Casasola in third place.
The junior races provided some early excitement as Bas Vanden Eynde turned his European Championships bronze into a win, beating Delano Heeren in a sprint to the line. In the junior women's race, Lintel Huys made it seven wins in a row as the new European champion took a comfortable victory.
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Superprestige Merksplas - Aardbeiencross 2026 elite men results
| 1 | VANDEPUTTE Niels | Alpecin-Premier Tech Development Te.. | 1:01:24 |
| 2 | WYSEURE Joran | Crelan - Corendon | ,, |
| 3 | ORTS Felipe | Euskaltel - Euskadi | 0:02 |
| 4 | CORSUS Yordi | Pauwels Sauzen - Altez Industriebou.. | 0:05 |
| 5 | NIEUWENHUIS Joris | Heizomat - Cube | ,, |
| 6 | KUHN Kevin | Heizomat - Cube | 0:07 |
| 7 | MICHELS Jente | Alpecin-Premier Tech Development Te.. | 0:08 |
| 8 | HENDRIKX Mees | Team Bomba Join | 0:16 |
| 9 | VAN DE PUTTE Victor | Charles Liégeois Roastery CX | 0:19 |
| 10 | KAMP Ryan | Team Bomba Join | 0:22 |
Superprestige Merksplas - Aardbeiencross 2026 elite women results
| 1 | BRAND Lucinda | Baloise Verzekeringen - Het Poetsbu.. | 49:58:00 |
| 2 | VAN DER HEIJDEN Inge | Crelan - Corendon | 0:02 |
| 3 | CASASOLA Sara | Crelan - Corendon | 0:03 |
| 4 | VAN ALPHEN Aniek | 777tv CX Team | 0:09 |
| 5 | BENTVELD Leonie | Pauwels Sauzen - Altez Industriebou.. | 0:13 |
| 6 | VAN EMPEL Fem | Specialized TMRW | 0:16 |
| 7 | BETSEMA Denise | De Ceuster Bouwkranen | 0:18 |
| 8 | ZEMANOVÁ Kristýna | Crelan - Corendon | 0:23 |
| 9 | BROUWERS Julie | Charles Liégeois Roastery CX | 0:29 |
| 10 | BAKKER Manon | 0:34 |
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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