Michael and Felipe on the Podium in Dublin

This weekend, 'The Ireland Call' resonated in the cyclocross world. Dublin hosted the second round of the World Cup. It was another hugely successful weekend for us, with a victory for Michael Vanthourenhout and a podium finish for Felipe Orts from our very own Ridley Racing Team!

The riders of Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal are firing on all cylinders. At the start of the season, they were already performing consistently, but securing that coveted classification race win proved elusive. Last week, Eli Iserbyt took back-to-back wins, including the opening round of the World Cup in Antwerp. Riding high on confidence, he lined up in Ireland proudly wearing the leader’s jersey of this prestigious series.

However, it was teammate Michael Vanthourenhout who emerged as the most determined rider in the race. Despite having to change shoes mid-race, he continuously drove the pace at the front. Six riders proved to be the strongest, including Vanthourenhout, Iserbyt, Johan Wyseure, Pim Ronhaar, Toon Aerts, and Felipe Orts from Ridley Racing Team.

Thrilling Finale

In a nail-biting finale, Vanthourenhout managed to eke out a small lead. He held onto it in the final meters and crossed the finish line jubilantly to secure victory. Felipe delivered another impressive final lap, claiming third place on the podium. With Eli finishing fourth, that meant three Ridley riders made it into the top four.

Daan Soete also competed in Dublin, finishing 18th in this prestigious race. In the women’s race, Leonie Bentveld placed 9th, while Denise Betsema came in 13th. Among the U23 riders, Yordi Corsus (4th) and Kay De Bruyckere (9th) secured notable finishes. Lastly, our Polish champion Marek Konwa celebrated a brilliant victory in his home country. This winter, he has already claimed wins in Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland.

Photos: Photo News & Gaëtan Flamme
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