Very strong Lars van der Haar unloads Belgians with impressive sprint in Koppenbergcross | Sport

For Van der Hara it was a more than handsome victory, partly because the Woudenberger of the Baloise Trek Lions team had fallen in the final round. As a result, Michael Vanthourenhout made a gap, but with an ultimate effort from the reigning European champion, Van der Haar still passed the tired Belgian, who also saw his team and compatriot Iserbyt pass.

Van der Haar had a lot of bad luck last weekend with flat tires in both the Ruddervoorde cross and the World Cup race in Maasmechelen. On Sunday, the 31-year-old Woudenberger will defend his European title in Namur.

She announced in advance that it was her favorite cross and the competition knew that too. Fem van Empel has just won the Koppenbergcross with a great display of power. Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal teammate Denise Betsema (second) and Shirin van Anrooij (third) provided an all-Dutch podium in the first race for the X2O Trophy.

For 20-year-old Van Empel, it was her seventh victory of the season after eight starts. At the finish on the Koppenberg she still had the strength to lift her bike above her head. Betsema crossed the line 50 seconds later, totally exhausted and could barely stay upright.

Van Empel immediately took a lead on the Koppenberg in the classification for the X2O trophy. This is made on the basis of time. For the final winner after eight matches, an amount of 30,000 euros is ready.

,,It is the third time that I come here and now I finally win”, said Van Empel, who drove alone for a long time. ,,That was not actually the intention, but I soon noticed that my legs were in good order.” With a view to the battle for the European title on Saturday in Namur, it seemed like a good effort to her: “Otherwise I would have done an intensive training. I think that we succeeded here too.”