Brothers Diether and Laurens Sweeck of team Corendon-Kwadro won the first two places in the fourth run of the ”bpost bank trofee” cyclocross series at Hasselt/Belgium, riding their STEVENS Super Prestige. After several good placings it was the first win for Diether Sweek. Laurens was on the podium again after his victory in Hamme.

“It was a great experience, after being so close several times“, Diether Sweeck said after the race. Laurens, who had problems with his chain in the final, was not able to sprint. “I first thought, I could close the gap, but Diether was too strong in the end,” Laurens said. This double victory was the third podium they were standing on next to each other.

The overall first place in the series is held by Michael Vanthourenhout, who came in third in Hasselt, with a lead of 2:08 minutes in front of Laurens Sweeck. Diether Sweeck is forth behind Tom Aerts.

In the Elite competition, Sweeck’s Corendon-Kwadro team mates reached good placings: Julien Taramarcaz rode his STEVENS Super Prestige to an 8th place, Bart Aernouts came in 11th in front of German Cyclocross Champion Philipp Walsleben, riding for team BKCP Powerplus. Marcel Meisen of Corendon-Kwadro came in 18th. Winner was Kevin Pauwels with Wout Van Aert in 2nd and Tom Meusen 3rd.

Paul Lindenau of STEVENS Racing Team, who is in his first year in the U-23 category finished 23rd. In the Junior race, German Junior Cross Champion Ludwig Cords rode to a 19th place finish. ”That’s what’s possible for him, being stressed by a double curriculum of school and sports, a short preparation and a long travel”, said Jens Schwedler, STEVENS Racing Team’s Directeur Sportif.

In the following race at Overijse/Belgium on Sunday, Marcel Meisen improved to 6th place. “That’s the result of my hard work during the last weeks.” Meisen said after the race, who had no trouble handling the long distance on heavy-pack surface. Philipp Walsleben (BKCP-Powerplus) came in 4th behind his team mate Mathieu van der Poel. Tom Meusen won in front of Klaas Vantornout. Paul Lindenau also rode a good race in Overijse. Starting from a slot further back he improved from place 31 to 24 and was close to place 20 when he crashed and bent his derailleur hanger, which  broke.

Ludwig Cords finished 11th in the Junior race, ”which is a respectable result taking into account the unfavourable course with lots of hardpack and many running sections”, Jens Schwedler said.