"Tomorrow will also be great in that white jersey as leader of the World Cup" - Michael Vanthourenhout heads to Namur full of confidence after Herentals success

Michael Vanthourenhout has been one of the form riders in the cyclocross world over recent weeks and the Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal continued this on Saturday afternoon, triumphing in Herentals ahead of Pim Ronhaar and Laurens Sweeck.

"It's always nice to win a race. It was also a very exciting cross”, Vanthourenhout reflected in his post-race interview afterwards. “I think Pim Ronhaar and I were the strongest. I had put everything on the last lap, but it was really going all the way, right up to the finish line actually. When you come out on top, that's always fun.”

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Michael Vanthourenhout holds off challenge of Ronhaar and Sweeck to take impressive victory in Herentals

The trio of Vanthourenhout, Ronhaar and Sweeck entered the final lap locked together, but when the former European champion accelerated the pace, neither of his challengers could live with him. "I just made it a very long final," he explains. "In the end, I just came out on top."

With Vanthourenhout heading to Namur on Sunday as the leader of the World Cup standings, he also has extra incentive. "What does this say about tomorrow's race in Namur? I'm going to try to recover from today first. And enjoy it," he previews in conclusion. "Tomorrow will also be great in that white jersey as leader of the World Cup. I'm going to enjoy that too.”

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