17/12/2023

Tom Pidcock soars to first victory of the cyclocross season in Namur despite early mishap

Namur is a circuit that suits Tom Pidcock. The Briton has proved that once again this Sunday by taking a commanding victory, despite loosing his chain early in the race. He beat Pim Ronhaar whilst Eli Iserbyt maintains his World Cup lead.

The race in Namur began with Kevin Kuhn and Gerben Kuypers taking over the front. Kuypers had a gap but a fallen chain in the circuit's most tricky drop-off saw Ryan Kamp take over the lead. He was joined by Joris Nieuwenhuis and Pim Ronhaar in the front and later by teammate Eli Iserbyt, however the Baloise - Trek Lions duo looked the strongest.

"He rode 5 km/h too fast" - Paul Herygers on Mathieu van der Poel's attack at Herentals

Tom Pidcock also made it to the front but also suffered a fallen chain. He was dropped, whilst Iserbyt crashed and Kamp was also dropped. Gaps began to grow. Ronhaar went solo off the front a couple of laps after whilst Pidcock made his way through the front of the field once again. The muddy conditions made it brutal for some with Laurens Sweeck abandoning the race, Lars van der Haar absent from the front and plenty hitting the ground.

Pidcock made his way through to Ronhaar on lap 6 and in the following lap went on to drop the Dutchman. The Briton has displayed tremendous form by extending the gap meaningfully inside the final two laps into his first victory of the season. Baloise - Trek Lions duo Pim Ronhaar and Joris Nieuwenhuis completed the podium whilst Eli Iserbyt and Michael Vanthourenhout arrived righ after.