Sunday, November 5, 2023 at 4:37 PM
Michael Vanthourenhout certainly did not have a smooth run-up to the European Cyclo-cross Championships, but there was little sign of that in Pontchâteau. The Belgian attacked in the first round and cleverly soloed to a second consecutive European title.
Michael Vanthourenhout’s cross season certainly did not go smoothly in the first weeks. Due to illness, he started the first cyclo-cross races behind and to make matters worse, he had a bad day in the World Cup in Maasmechelen, barely a week before the European title battle. Vanthourenhout even quit early in Maasmechelen.
We are now a week further and the world looks completely different: Vanthourenhout soloed to a new European title on Sunday, in tough conditions. “My season didn’t go well, but I already felt very strong after the Koppenbergcross. Today was my day,” he said afterwards in the flash interview.
“I already had good legs at the beginning of the cross and I went full throttle from the start. It was enough for the win. I am very happy with this new title. It is a shame that I cannot wear my Belgian champion jersey again, but a second European title is also very nice.”
