Toon Aerts (Belgium ) took a surprise win at the Cyclocross European Championships when he soloed to victory in Pontchateau.
On a fast course that was almost like a road race, the outsider benefited from the tactical game and a strong Belgian attack to make a well-timed attack and as the chase never got organized, he won the race with a big advantage. Mathieu van der Poel beat Wout van Aert and Clement Venturini in the sprint for second.
Aerts will get his first chance to wear his new jersey in Tuesday’s legendary Koppenbergcross which is part of the DVV Trofee series.
Cyclocross European Championships 2016 – elite men’s race results:
| 1 | Toon Aerts (Beglium) | 1:04:16 |
| 2 | Mathieu Van Der Poel (Netherlands) | +45” |
| 3 | Wout Van Aert (Belgium ) | ,, |
| 4 | Clément Venturini (France ) | ,, |
| 5 | Jens Adams (Belgium ) | ,, |
| 6 | Kevin Pauwels (Belgium ) | ,, |
| 7 | Lars Van Der Haar (Netherlands) | +49” |
| 8 | Marcel Wildhaber (Switzerland) | +55” |
| 9 | Steve Chainel (France) | +01’05” |
| 10 | Corne Van Kessel (Netherlands) | +01’09” |
