Today the Citadel of Namur forms the backdrop for one of the most beautiful crosses in cyclo-cross country. We delved into our archives and found 5 exciting editions. Will we get another unforgettable viewing this afternoon?
2011: “old fox” Nys beats Albert in a very exciting final round
In a major thriller, the five of them enter the final round: Sven Nys, Niels Albert, Klaas Vantornout, Tom Meeusen and world champion Zdenek Stybar.
A ruthless Albert puts everyone on the rack in the final round. Nys has to hurry, hangs up for 2 seconds and closes the hole just in time.
With a final cartouche 200 meters from the finish, 35-year-old Nys settled the duel with 25-year-old Albert in his favor.
2015: thriller between Van Aert and Van der Poel
Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert make it a titanic duel on the Citadel, with Kevin Pauwels as the third dog.
In a very exciting final round, it turns into a joust between world champion Van der Poel and Van Aert.
After Van Aert accelerates, Van der Poel fires his bullet last. That is enough for the Dutchman to make the victory gesture with a 1 second bonus.
2016: very strong Van Aert bites Van der Poel’s teeth
A slide and a fall over the head, the diagonal side seems to be cursed for Wout van Aert in 2016.
When Van Aert gets stuck in a banner, he fights his way back into the wheel of his Dutch rival for the 3rd time. In fact, Van Aert bombards Van der Poel twice in the final round and seems to be the strongest.
But with a furious sprint on the last climb, Van der Poel trumps the very strong Van Aert.
2019: Aerts breaks rib in duel with Van der Poel
An epic mud fight that will remain etched in your memory.
Toon Aerts and Mathieu van der Poel serve the spectators on the Citadel a captivating mud duel. But a hard smack from Aerts in the mud puts an end to the battle.
Aerts finishes the cross with a broken rib and finishes 2nd after Van der Poel, who had to go very deep until that decisive fall.
2020: three-way battle to enjoy
“The cleanest cross of the season”, exclaims commentator Michel Wuyts at the end of the Citadelcross.
An unleashed Tom Pidcock punches Van der Poel and Van Aert immediately after the start. But under the impulse of Van Aert, the Big Three merged in the penultimate lap.
Van der Poel takes a 10 meter lead over Van Aert in terms of technique in the final lap and does not relinquish it. Van Aert is stranded at 3 seconds, Pidcock is a nice 3rd.
2023-12-17 08:19:47
#epic #mud #battles #Citadel #Namur #Nys #Albert #feasting #Big
