It\u2019s been a long\u2013but exciting cyclocross season, but there\u2019s still a few left. You won\u2019t see eight-time world champion Mathieu van der Poel in them\u2013he is now fully committed to the road seawson (which is well underway!) but many of the usual suspects will continue to toe the line.<\/p>\n
There are three big races left in the season: the Exact Cross Sint-Niklaas \u2013 Waaslandcross in Belgium, the X2O Trofee Brussels \u2013 Brussels Universities Cyclocross in Belgium, and the Internationale Sluitingsprijs Oostmalle in Belgium.<\/p>\n
All of Team Canada has gone back to North America (or some, to Europe) to prepare for their road or MTB seasons, too.<\/p>\n
On Valentine\u2019s Day, the final Exact Cross of the year goes down in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium. The next day, riders race the X2O Trofee Brussels.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, Niels Vandeputte took his first X2O Trofee win of the season<\/a>. Mees Hendrikx took an early lead but Vandeputte quickly moved ahead. Spaniard Filipe Orts and Euro champ Toon Aerts chased behind. Vandeputte gradually pulled away while Hendrikx, Aerts, Michael Vanthourenhout, and series leader Joris Nieuwenhuis battled for the podium positions.<\/p>\n Orts struggled to maintain contact, and fatigue eventually dropped Aerts from contention. In the closing laps, a small mistake from Nieuwenhuis allowed Vanthourenhout to secure second, with Vandeputte finishing comfortably ahead to take the victory.<\/p>\n