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“Title gone. Broken chain. No words” - Dutchman misses European title after breaking his chain in dramatic finale

Cyclocross
by Rúben Silva
Monday, 04 November 2024 at 11:03
davidhaverdings
The Cyclocross European Championships have taken place this weekend in Pontevedra, Spain, and the fast course delivered a lot of spectacle and drama. However, the men's under-23 race may have been decided by a mechanical in the final minute of the race, as David Haverdings saw a possible title escape his hands.
“Title gone. Broken chain. No words," Haverdings said in an Instagram story following the race. The Dutchman, riding for Baloise - Trek Lions during the season, attacked the race right from the start hard. He was followed by Jente Michels and later joined by Filippo Agostinacchio. The trio put each other under pressure constantly throughout the last laps but it would all come down to the final lap.

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Right in front of the eyes of our man on the ground Rúben Silva Haverdings made a bold move to overtake Michels in one of the final corners right before the pits. When the leading group emerged once again out of the wooded area Michels was in the lead with Agostinacchio following, and Haverdings stopped on the bike. Amidst his attack, he broke his chain whilst leading the race.
This happened as he rode through the pit area and so it was impossible to fix the situation, and instead he had to run his way to the finish (and push the bike whilst on one pedal in the finishing straight. A full race of hard work down the drain, to then finish in 10th spot, 43 seconds behind the man he had attacked just one minute before.

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