Niels Vandeputte Secures First World Cup Win on Muddy Hulst Course
Belgian rider Niels Vandeputte claimed his first-ever World Cup victory in impressive fashion, soloing to a hard-fought win on the muddy, technical course in Hulst, Netherlands. The triumph is the third of the season for the 24-year-old Alpecin-Deceuninck rider and comes at a pivotal moment in the cyclocross calendar.
Vandeputte dominated the seven-lap race from the outset, building a commanding lead before holding off a late charge by Felipe Orts (Ridley) to win by 9 seconds. Pim Ronhaar (Baloise Trek Lions) completed the podium, finishing third after a final-lap battle with Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal).
A Perfect Start Leads to Victory
Vandeputte executed his race plan flawlessly, surging to the front on the first lap after moving past Lars van der Haar (Baloise Trek Lions), who had taken the holeshot. By the end of the first lap, Vandeputte had established a three-second lead over his chasers, including Orts, Thibau Nys (Baloise Trek Lions), Ronhaar, Iserbyt, and Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal).
The challenging muddy conditions quickly began to take a toll on the field. Vanthourenhout, who looked strong early and had begun to pull away, crashed on a steep downhill section, flipping over his handlebars. Though he rejoined the chase group, the crash marked the beginning of a series of issues that eventually saw him fall out of contention.
As positions shuffled behind him, Vandeputte steadily increased his lead, demonstrating both technical skill and physical endurance.
Building a Commanding Lead
By the third lap, Vandeputte had pushed his advantage to 31 seconds, a significant gap on the muddy, energy-sapping course. Behind him, Orts began to take control of the chase group, with Iserbyt, Ronhaar, and Emiel Verstrynge (Crelan-Corendon) all fighting for position.
As the race entered its later stages, Orts separated himself from the group in a determined solo effort to catch Vandeputte. By the start of the fifth lap, Vandeputte’s lead had been reduced to 24 seconds, with Orts in second and Iserbyt, Ronhaar, and Verstrynge battling behind him. Meanwhile, Cameron Mason (Cyclocross Reds) was making an impressive surge from his fourth-row start, climbing into the top five positions.
A Thrilling Final Lap
Orts maintained his second-place position heading into the final lap, narrowing the gap to just nine seconds as he pushed hard to catch the leader. Behind him, Ronhaar and Iserbyt were locked in a battle for the final podium spot, with Ronhaar eventually pulling ahead on the bell lap.
Despite the late surge from Orts, Vandeputte’s early dominance proved unassailable. Crossing the finish line solo, he celebrated a landmark victory, his first in a World Cup race.
Post-Race Reflections
After the race, Vandeputte expressed his joy and surprise at the result:
"I felt great today, both technically and physically. I had a great start from the second row and I thought in the first lap, yeah, let's just put some pressure on the other guys and I got a small gap and then you don't have to wait.”
Reflecting on his victory, he added:
“I didn’t expect in the first lap to be able to keep the gap the entire race, but I’m very happy that I managed to finish it off today.”
This World Cup victory follows Vandeputte’s wins earlier this season at Brumath and the X2O Badkamers Trofee in Hamme. However, he acknowledged that this triumph carries extra weight:
“I’ve won a few bigger races now, but the World Cup is just another level, and especially now at the start of the Christmas period, this gives a big morale boost as well. I’m very excited now for the races that are coming up.”
Race Results and Notable Performances
- Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Deceuninck): A flawless performance from start to finish, securing his first World Cup win.
- Felipe Orts (Ridley): A strong chase effort saw the Spanish rider finish just nine seconds behind the winner.
- Pim Ronhaar (Baloise Trek Lions): Delivered an impressive final lap to secure his first World Cup podium.
- Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal): Fourth place after a tough battle with Ronhaar.
- Cameron Mason (Cyclocross Reds): A standout performance, moving up from a fourth-row start to finish fifth.
Looking Ahead
With this win, Vandeputte has solidified his place as one of the rising stars in cyclocross. As the season intensifies with the approach of the Christmas period, his confidence and momentum are at an all-time high. Fans can look forward to seeing him and other top contenders in action during the upcoming races.