Dutch cyclocross cyclists guarantee foliage in Rosmalen

With two winners at home – Mathieu van der Poel with men and women with Annemarie Worst and even a full-sized "Oranje-podium" – The European Cyclo-Cross Championship in Rosmalen was played Sunday at a Dutch party.

Van der Poel, last year in the European Championship already the strongest of the Czech Tabor, extended its European title with a great demonstration of strength. The 23-year-old Cyclocross rider left the race early and almost only drove the entire race. At 14 seconds, Belgian world champion Wout van Aert finished second, ahead of compatriot Laurens Sweeck, who passed the test four seconds later.

Doubts about its form

In the race for the European Championship, doubts have arisen over Van der Poel's form after his 21st place at the Koppenbergcross in Oudenaarde last Thursday. "That can happen," said the all-rounder, who seemed to have minor concerns.

Van der Poel quickly put an end to all the uncertainties during the race and showed his class as always. In the first of a total of nine rounds, Van Aert took a small advantage. Van der Poel entered the second round and was never in danger for the remainder of the race. His leadership fell in the final, but Van der Poel was not complete. Long before the end, he shook hands with the spectators along the way.

"In the period before the Koppenberg Cross, I rested a little too much," so he looked at the NDS back to collapse in Oudenaarde. "After that, I did not ride for two days. I'm glad it happened there, instead." At the Autotron in Rosmalen, Van der Poel was greeted by thousands of frantic fans. "When you see how much man is in the leg. It can not be better for the Netherlands."

While two Belgians took the podium with the men, Dutch domination was complete during this European Championship. Annemarie Worst won the European title and was flanked on the podium by her compatriots Marianne Vos (second) and Denise Betsema. Belgian title defender, Sanne Cant, had to settle for a fourth place.

Worse, who in the past already became world champion in the promises, won earlier this year in Gieten, Superprestige. "Everything had to go well, but I knew I could do it," he told NOS. "I made the difference by turning and turning. I can not do that in the long straight lines"

Vos, the European champion of 2005 and 2009, made a slight impression at the start of the race. "I could not do much more than try to save what could be saved."