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Complete Leuven Cross podium history | 2020 edition

Weather at Leuven at 2:00 PM, local time: 12C (54F), with showers in the vicinity. The wind is from the west at 13 km/hr (8 mph). All afternoon the chance for rain is about 80%.

Complete results: Men | Women

Winner Laurens Sweeck on the podium with a future CX racer.

Men:

Results | Start list

The race: Here is a machine translation of the race organizer's report:

Laurens Sweeck has fulfilled his favorite role in Leuven with verve. The rider of Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal left the competition behind in the third round and rode carefree towards his second victory of the season. Belgian Tom Meeusen and Spaniard Felipe Orts colored their days with a podium place.

Last year Laurens Sweeck only secured himself in the sprint of the flowers, on Saturday he already reached out to victory in the third round. After Jarno Bellens' quick start, an extensive leading group of nine riders had formed. In the second round Sweeck took the initiative and thinned out the leading group further, one lap later he finally chose the harepath.

“I wanted to be sure of the victory earlier than last year and make the difference in the first half of the race,” explains Sweeck. “That allowed me to slow down a bit at the end. I'm glad it worked, although I've never really stopped. I could just keep riding my pace, so I had to take a little less risk in the final phase.”

For Sweeck it was the second victory of the season, after Ardooie. “The absolute top wasn't here, but those guys are wrong. Many riders were already thinking about the World Cup. I didn't make that choice. These crosses also have the right to exist and today we got a nice course that has something to offer. We'll see what comes tomorrow. I am happy to have won this victory.”

Meeusen breaks the negative spiral
In the background Tom Meeusen, Daan Soete and Felipe Orts competed for the remaining podium places. Soete was the first to go overboard, but in the final lap Meeusen decided the battle for second place in his favor.

“I have the feeling that I have been able to break through the negative spiral”, Meeusen beamed. “The last few years have been very difficult for me. In Niel I only came through in thirtieth after one lap. Then it is difficult to drive in prices. Mentally it is not easy either. Now I feel like I'm professional again. Of course, not everything is all right now, but it's really nice to be on stage again." Meeusen was loudly shouted in front of the podium. "I don't know those guys, but it shows I'm still popular."

Big day for Felipe Orts
Felipe Orts colored the race from start to finish and saw his efforts rewarded with a third place. “I knew I had a good chance of being on the podium today and I'm glad I did. To get a podium as a Spanish cyclo-cross rider in Belgium, that's fantastic. This is a big day for myself and for my team.”

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CompleteResults:

Start list, November 12, 2021:

Women:

Anna Kay finishes almost a minute ahead of her nearest chaser.

Results | Start list

The race: Here is a machine translation of the race organizer's report:

Anna Kay has achieved her first victory on Belgian soil in the Ethias Cross in Leuven. The British rider was technically the strongest and clearly no longer suffers from her collarbone fracture. Ellen Van Loy and Laura Verdonschot thoroughly enjoyed their podium place.

It was only the second race for Anna Kay after her collarbone fracture, but the British rider took control of the race from the start. Ellen Van Loy went along well in the opening phase, but soon had to release the role after a slide on the technical course.

“I made too many mistakes to lay claim to the win”, realizes Van Loy, who was finally placed second on the podium. “From the start, Anna's quick start pushed me on the defensive, causing me to crash in the technical sections. On a treacherous slippery course I crashed a total of three times, then you see the gap only getting bigger.”

While Kay tackled the bumps and the washboard with great flair and in between jumped over the bars with a lot of swing, many of her competitors opted for a run. “My passage on the washboard may not have looked like it,” laughs Van Loy, who opted for the side in an unorthodox way. “But for me it was the fastest way. I can really enjoy that podium place now. For me it is probably the first and last time of the season. In addition, I learned today that there is still little decay on it. The fourth and final lap I was able to ride at the same pace.”

And Kay? She enjoyed her triumphal procession. “I did feel a bit of pressure because I started as the favourite, but I tried not to think about it too much. Then you will make mistakes. Those technical zones were in my favor today. I have to rely more on my technique than my strength. It's really nice to be back like this after my injury. I didn't expect to be at this level so quickly."

For Kay it was her very first victory on Belgian soil. “That's really big for me. It also means a lot for the team and the sponsors to win a TV cross. My shoulder? That doesn't bother me too much. Sometimes it stiffens up a bit, but because of that big plate my shoulder is probably stronger than before. That record will probably stay in it as long as I keep cruising. It would take too long for that shoulder to heal if I had them taken out.”

Laura Verdonschot dropped completely after a quick start, but after a nice comeback still managed to take third place. “For a moment I thought 'What will this be?', but luckily I never panicked and got back into my rhythm. I then finished the race at my own pace. Of course I am very happy with the third place. The toppers may not be there, but four weeks ago I wouldn't even have raced a top ten at this level."

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Complete Results:

Start list, November 12, 2021:

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