Although he is longing for the end of the season, Eli Iserbyt has given his season some extra shine with a victory in the Exact Cross of Maldegem. The Belgian champion rushed away from teammate Michael Vanthourenhout in the final phase. The two of them lured the busy Pim Ronhaar into a trap.
Three days after the World Championships in Tabor, Maldegem started the final part of the cyclo-cross season. It was clear to Eli Iserbyt: he announced in advance that he mainly wanted to enjoy himself in the coming weeks.
The Belgian champion also did this in the Sint-Anna Park. He quickly took the lead, but a long solo on the fast course was equivalent to blowing up his engine.
Together with teammate Michael Vanthourenhout and Pim Ronhaar, Iserbyt took control. Ronhaar made things quite difficult for the two. Just before the halfway point he tensed his legs and he also pedaled hard in the final.
Too strong, because with Iserbyt and Vanthourenhout in his side mirrors, the young Dutchman broke. Ronhaar slipped away in the final lap and Iserbyt took advantage of that. The Belgian champion won before the European.
The fall of Pim Ronhaar decided the final in Maldegem. “It’s a shame he fell,” Eli Iserbyt responded. “I was just able to avoid his bike and crashed into him. Fortunately it was not too wet, otherwise I would have fallen too.”
“But I was just about to make my attack. I was in the mood and wanted to give it my all again.”
Iserbyt took his 9th win of the season. “I hope to take a few more, but it certainly wasn’t easy. Everyone seems to have returned from Tabor well.”
“In the last lap I felt deflated and Niels (Vandeputte, ed.) still put pressure on us. I felt it was over and it was good that Eli passed to be on the safe side,” said Michael Vanthourenhout. “1 and 2 for our team is nice.”
“The podium is nice, but I had a good feeling and maybe there was more to it,” added Niels Vandeputte. “But I have to be satisfied with it. This is a nice start to the last part of the season.”
