Tom Lindner of STEVENS Racing Team confirmed his great form by riding to another third place in the U19 Juniors’ competition of the fifth World Cup race of the season in Koksijde, Belgium just like one week before in Tabor, Czech Republic. On a sandy and profiled course with a couple of running sections the German Junior Cyclocross Champion right after the start joined a five-strong head group where he fit in well.

At first he was even able to follow the attack of new European Champion Pim Ronhaar (Netherlands) and World Cup overall leader Wietse Meeusen (Belgium). After another attack by Ronhaar the group eventually fell apart.

The first two fought a distant duel among themselves while French rider Theo Thomas caught up with Lindner. The two fought each other fiercely, but the STEVENS Racing Team rider prevailed in the end by getting two seconds ahead.

Due to this third-place finish Tom Lindner is now fourth overall in the World Cup rankings – congratulations!

Three STEVENS Super Prestige in the Top Ten
In the subsequent races of the Men’s and Women’s elite there were further podium placings for STEVENS Super Prestige riders. In the Women’s Elite race a head group formed after catching up to Marianne Vos who had broken away earlier. The quartet, consisting of Annemarie Worst, Nikki Brammeier, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and Sanne Cant, was later joined by Katie Compton and Denise Betsema.

Denise Betsema quickened the pace so Compton and Sanne Cant, who was weakened by an illness, could not follow at first. When she attacked again in the final lap, she also dropped the remaining three riders of her group and won a couple of seconds ahead of Brammeier and Annemarie Worst. Worst’s team mate Alice Maria Arzuffi of team Steylaerts 777 came in fifth, Sanne Cant rides to seventh place – three riders on STEVENS Super Prestige in the top ten.

Second Place for Wout van Aert After Strong Chase
Wout van Aert had gotten a good start in the Men’s Elite race yet dropped back after crashing in a deep sand section in the first third of the race. In the subsequent laps he fought his way back, but in front Mathieu van der Poel already was on a solo break-away. In the fight for place two Wout van Aert eventually prevailed over Toon Aerts. While the World Champion could not do more than decrease the gap from35 to 25 seconds, he came in a comfortable 13 seconds ahead of Toon Aerts. Gianni Vermeersch of team Steylaerts 777 finishes 13th.