The women’s race at Koksijde began with a fast-paced charge down the starting straight, setting the tone for a gruelling contest on the sandy course. Fem van Empel initially led the pack into the first corner, but Inge van der Heijden quickly surged to the front, showcasing her sharp form. The pair tackled the opening climbs and dunes with strength, while Lucinda Brand and Sanne Cant stayed within reach, forming an early group of contenders.
As the race reached the first sandy sections, the brutal nature of the Koksijde course began to show. Van Empel and Brand made errors in the sand, costing them valuable seconds, while Van der Heijden and Pieterse worked together to create a gap. By the start of the second lap, the field was fragmented, and Pieterse made her move. She pushed the pace and forced a mistake from Van der Heijden, who lost momentum and dropped back.
Pieterse quickly established a solo lead, navigating the dunes with remarkable composure. Even a minor error in the third lap, where she hit the barriers after taking a poor line, didn’t disrupt her rhythm. Behind her, Brand recovered from her difficult opening lap and began closing in on Van Empel and Van der Heijden. The reigning World Champion, Van Empel, appeared off her best, struggling to find her usual power in the sand.
As Pieterse crossed the line to start the final lap, her lead had stabilised at 20 seconds over Brand, with Van Empel a further five seconds back. Brand, known for her late surges, pushed hard to narrow the gap in the last lap, but Pieterse remained in control, picking clean lines through the dunes. She had time to celebrate her victory, finishing 19 seconds ahead of Brand, who settled for yet another second-place finish. Van Empel, battling through what she described as an “off day,” completed the podium at 39 seconds back. Van der Heijden, after her strong start, finished just outside the top three.
Reflecting on her dominant performance, Pieterse said, “It’s really nice to win, especially a big race like Koksijde. Sand is not normally my thing, but today I could do a smooth ride in the dunes and kept up my momentum. Now it’s up to me to hold onto this momentum as I build towards the Worlds.”
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Photo Credit: GettySweeck shines as sand shapes the outcome
The men’s race at Koksijde began with chaos in the first corner, as a crash involving several riders disrupted the peloton. While those caught in the pile-up, including Niels Vandeputte, struggled to recover, Tibor del Grosso launched an aggressive start at the front, with Laurens Sweeck quickly latching onto his wheel. The pair worked together to create a gap, leaving the likes of Pim Ronhaar and Toon Aerts chasing from behind.
By the second lap, the lead duo had solidified their advantage, trading turns at the front while navigating the challenging sand sections. Del Grosso showcased his technical skills, briefly gaining an edge in the fourth lap as he rode cleanly through a tricky sandy corner. Sweeck, however, refused to let up, regaining contact and using his strength on the climbs to stay in contention.
Behind them, Ronhaar emerged as the primary chaser but gradually faded, allowing Aerts, Joran Wyseure, and Toon Vandebosch to close in. Despite their efforts, the group was unable to make significant inroads on the leaders, who remained locked in their duel. Del Grosso’s mistakes began to accumulate as the race progressed, with a pedal caught on a fence in the fifth lap allowing Sweeck to open a decisive gap.
Sweeck, riding with control and consistency, extended his lead in the final laps. His ability to maintain momentum through the sand proved decisive, while Del Grosso showed signs of fatigue, unable to match the Belgian’s pace. As the bell signalled the final lap, Sweeck held a 15-second advantage, which he widened further to finish 26 seconds ahead of Del Grosso.
“I wasn’t at all confident,” Sweeck admitted post-race. “I just tried to do my own thing and get through the sand sections well. It was only at the end that I felt really confident.” Del Grosso, reflecting on his second-place finish, acknowledged Sweeck’s superiority. “To beat someone like Laurens Sweeck, you have to be perfect. I made too many small mistakes, but it’s still great to be competing at this level.”
Toon Aerts completed the podium in third, finishing over 50 seconds behind Sweeck. The Belgian’s win marked his fifth of the season and further cemented his reputation as a sand specialist. The challenging course and competitive field made for an exciting day of racing, with the dunes of Koksijde once again playing a defining role in both the women’s and men’s events.
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Main photo credit: Getty
