Namur once again proved to be a tailor-made circuit for Tom Pidcock. The British cyclist demonstrated his skill this Sunday by securing an impressive victory, overcoming an initial setback with a chain drop. Pidcock triumphed over Pim Ronhaar, while Joris Nieuwnhuis finished third.
The race in Namur began with Kevin Kuhn and Gerben Kuypers taking the lead. Kuypers even managed to open up a gap, but a chain issue allowed Ryan Kamp to take the lead. Joris Nieuwenhuis and Pim Ronhaar joined him at the front, later followed by Eli Iserbyt, his teammate. However, the Baloise-Trek Lions duo seemed to be the most dominant.
Tom Pidcock managed to move forward, but there were also setbacks such as a chain drop. He fell, as did Iserbyt and Kamp. Gaps started to widen. A few laps later, Ronhaar emerged at the front, while Pidcock repositioned himself at the head of the pack.
The muddy conditions made the race relentless for some, leading to Laurens Sweeck’s withdrawal, Lars van der Haar’s absence at the front, and several crashes on the course.
Pidcock overtook Ronhaar in the sixth lap and, in the following lap, left the Dutch rider behind. Pidcock’s impressive performance was evident as he significantly increased the lead in the last two laps, securing his first victory of the season.
The Baloise-Trek Lions duo of Pim Ronhaar and Joris Nieuwenhuis completed the podium, closely followed by Eli Iserbyt and Michael Vanthourenhout.
Watch Pidcock’s finish
Full results of the 2023 Cyclo-cross World Cup – Namur Stage (Belgium)
