Michael Vanthourenhout fends off field for solo win at Hexia Cross Gullegem

Image 1 of 1 Michael Vanthourenhout (Image credit: Getty Images) European Cyclocross Champion Michael Vanthourenhout powered through atrociously muddy conditions for victory at Hexia Cross Gullegem with an impressive long distance solo attack. With over half the course still to race, the Pauwels Sauzen Bingoal rider surged away from a chase group of four and then stayed away with no further challenges for his second victory of the season.

Second, around 25 seconds back, was tenacious lone counterattacker Cameron Mason (Cyclocross Reds), with Joran Wyseure (Crelan Corendon) outpowering Thibau Nys (Baloise Trek Lions) in a thrilling, prolonged battle for third. In the absence of standout names like Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin Deceuninck) and Wout van Aert (Visma Lease a Bike), Vanthourenhout, though, was the clear dominator on an ultra demanding, old school course where the omnipresent deep mud and multiple stretches of gloopy standing water quickly shredded the field.

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