The Exact Cross Essen delivered some mucho high tension and contrasting emotions on Saturday, with chaos deciding the men\u2019s race and control defining the women\u2019s.<\/p>\n
In the men\u2019s race, Niels Vandeputte seemed good to go for the dub until Laurens Sweeck launched a last-ditch dive in one of the final corners. The risky overtake sent Vandeputte to the ground, costing him the win. Despite the incident, he said, \u2018hey, that\u2019s bike racing\u2019, basically.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the end, it\u2019s hard against hard,\u201d Vandeputte said to<\/p>\n
\ud83c\udfc6 Toon Vandebosch \ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddea gagne devant Van De Putte et Vandeputte sur le Cyclocross d\u2019Essen !! \ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddea\ud83d\ude0d\ud83e\udee1 pic.twitter.com\/FbrzJyC6uv<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Cyclisme Belge \ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddea\ud83e\ude77 (@LeCyclismebelge) October 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \/www.wielerflits.nl\/nieuws\/niels-vandeputte-kijkt-vooral-naar-zichzelf-na-bruuske-inhaalactie-laurens-sweeck\/\u201d>WielerFlits.<\/p>\n \u201cI should have closed that corner so he couldn\u2019t make that move. I cut it, and Laurens came inside. I didn\u2019t expect it. Maybe it wasn\u2019t the prettiest move, but in a race like this, it\u2019s just hard racing.\u201d<\/p>\n Vandeputte remounted rapidly and still got third, aided by Sweeck\u2019s puncture from the same action. But there was little satisfaction in that podium.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I should get a prize for how fast I jumped back on the bike,\u201d he said. \u201cBut it\u2019s no consolation. The goal was to win today, and third isn\u2019t enough.\u201d<\/p>\n The chaos cleared the way for Toon Vandebosch to claim victory, capitalizing on the misfortune of both protagonists in the final lap.<\/p>\n In the women\u2019s race, Lucinda Brand delivered a legit masterclass in positioning and timing, taking her second win in as many starts this season. The Baloise \u2013 Trek rider described the Essen race as both a race\u2026but also training.<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t an easy race,\u201d Brand said. \u201cWith such a fast course, sitting in the wheel gives you a big advantage. It\u2019s hard to really put pressure on each other.\u201d<\/p>\n Knowing overtaking was nearly impossible after the final bend, Brand seized control before the woods and held the pace high.<\/p>\n \u201cWith my lack of explosiveness, especially against someone like Sarah Casasola, I can\u2019t risk coming from second. This was the best choice.\u201d<\/p>\n Brand admitted she used Essen as race training. Which is common for the superstars of \u2018cross. Do some big training blocks leading up to the race, maybe do some volume after. It\u2019s very early in the season so riders can play around with racecraft too.<\/p>\n \u201cRiding races like this helps to be in the right place at the right moment. And if it goes wrong, it\u2019s less painful than at a world championship.\u201d<\/p>\n Pro cyclocross continues next weekend with the Superprestige series beginning. You can watch it on FloBikes.com, and Canadian Cycling Magazine will have a report \u2014 \u2018cause darn it, we love \u2018cross.<\/p>\n Results powered by FirstCycling.com<\/a><\/p>\n