Photo via Cyclingnews

HG Cross: Michael Vanthourenhout scores solo victory in Dendermonde as Pauwels Sauzen go 1-2

Michael Vanthourenhout secured his second cyclo-cross victory of the season in the HG Cross event in Dendermonde, leveraging a tactical team effort from Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw to dominate the race. The Belgian rider capitalized on a decisive move over the final obstacle—a challenging uphill sand section—where he outpaced rivals by dismounting while they struggled to maintain momentum.

His aggressive strategy paid off as he surged ahead on the last lap, extending his lead with precise, high-speed navigation through the course’s technical barriers. Teamwork proved crucial, as Yordi Corsus rounded out a Pauwels Sauzen 1-2 finish, though Joran Wyseure (Crelan-Corendon) edged out Gerben Kuypers for third place, denying the squad a podium sweep.

The race unfolded with Pauwels Sauzen controlling the pace from the start, dictating the tempo through the first five laps before isolating a quartet of leaders—Vanthourenhout, Corsus, Kuypers, and Wyseure—who built a six-second advantage by lap six. A late surge by Kuypers forced a chase from Wyseure, but the Belgian’s momentum faltered, allowing Vanthourenhout to seal his victory with a calculated, all-out effort on the final climb.

Up nextCycling· 3h ago

HG Cross: Lucinda Brand lays down the power in Dendermonde to take first win on first day of racing in 2026/27 season