Quinten Hermans takes his first World Cup success in an imperial way

This Wednesday, Tormans Cyclo Cross Team participated in the second race of the World Cup, the second consecutive one overseas. Marie Schreiber was the first one to line up on the demanding parcours in the Women Elite category. The 18 year old from Luxembourg finished the race in 24th position, 2:26 after world champion Lucinda Brand. The male delegation, composed of Quinten Hermans, Kevin Kuhn, Thomas Mein, Corné van Kessel and Emiel Verstrynge, started 1h30 later (21h in Belgium).

Three days after showing his excellent form in Waterloo, Quinten Hermans was again author of a solid start, occupying the race lead with Toon Aerts in the first lap. Hermans took advantage of a long climb to accelerate in the third lap and distance Aerts, Iserbyt and Vanthourenhout.

Quinten Hermans dominated the particularly demanding parcours, which will also host the World Championships in January. A staircase of 38 steps, hills and hairpins were muddy because of the rainy weather conditions. But Hermans raced imperially and extended his lead up to 48 seconds in the sixth and penultimate lap. He avoided risks in the last lap and finished the race in 55 minutes, 37 seconds ahead of the first chaser, European champion Eli Iserbyt.

In this way, Hermans doesn't only offer Tormans Cyclo Cross Team its first World Cup victory, but it is also his first personal World Cup success in the elite category. Also young Emiel Verstrynge rode an impressive race and finished 10th. The other riders of the team finished in the top 20: Thomas Mein 13th, Corné Van Kessel 16th and Kevin Kuhn 19th. Thanks to his victory and to his 3rd place in Waterloo, Hermans is now 2nd in the provisional individual World Cup classification.

All information about Quinten's Bike can be found on our website: CROSS RACE C:68X

Quinten Hermans:
"This victory feels so good! I was really motivated to prepare this cyclocross winter, because last year a crash in the Critérium du Dauphiné ruined the beginning of my season 2020-2021. This year, I marked these first World Cups as my first main goals of the season. So I'm happy that it worked out! I appreciate this moment a lot, especially after a difficult year. Already in the second lap, when Toon Aerts accelerated, I felt that I was strong today. I was the only one who was able to follow him on the climb and who had something left when it slowed down on top. So that's why I've chosen to attack there the following lap. It resulted in a solo of 40 minutes and a first World Cup win!"

Elite Men:
1.Quinten Hermans
2.Eli Iserbyt +0:37
3.Michael Vanthourenhout +0:49
10.Emiel Verstrynge +2:01
13.Thomas Mein +2:15
16.Corné Van Kessel +3:08
19.Kevin Kuhn

Elite Women:
1.Lucinda Brand
2.Denise Betsema +0:09
3.Clara Honsinger +0:16
24.Marie Schreiber +4:04