X2O Trofee Lille ME – Preview
By @EchelonsHub
The Course
It is the 7th round of the X2O Trofee and this weekend we are in Lille, Belgium, for what is set to be a gruesome race.
The Krawatencross is not the hilliest of courses, it does actually features quite long flat sections but those will be difficult with the rainy conditions that the riders are set to be facing tomorrow. The best way to describe this course is that it’s a combination of very technical sections stringed together by fast and straightforward sections.
The race takes place around a small lake and it’s shores make for a sandy terrain which is a crucial part of the track. The riders will encounter several sections which are packed with switchbacks up and down banks. Additionally there will be a couple of artificial bridges, a set of barriers right after a tight turn and artificial stairs aswell.
Recon of the track, From 02:05 to 13:40: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZkwHHr
The Startlist
| Jens Adam | Thijs Aerts | Toon Aerts | Jonathan Anderson |
| Vincent Baestaens | Yentl Bekaert | Gregory Careme | Steve Chainel |
| Mickael Crispin | Senne de Meyer | Tim de Schuyter | Sam Errens |
| Anton Ferdinande | Stan Godrie | Wouter Goosen | Klaas Groenen |
| Jens Gys | Lukas Herrmann | Gauthier Heymes | Mike Hooiveld |
| Eli Iserbyt | Cameron Jette | Tetsuki Kaji | Timo Kielich |
| Raphael Kockelmann | Niels Koyen | Kevin Kuhn | Yelle Leaerts |
| Lander Loockx | Tom Meeusen | Thomas Mein | Marcel Meisen |
| David Menut | Felipe Orts | Nicola Parenti | Nick Peers |
| Loris Rouiller | Timon Rüegg | Silas Schmid | Julian Siemons |
| Daan Soete | Kevin Suarez | Laurens Sweeck | Diether Sweeck |
| Siebe Tormans | Ingmar Uytdewilligen | Kenneth van Compernolle | Lars van der Haar |
| Maik van der Heijden | Koen van Dijke | Corne van Kessel | Maarten van Staeyen |
| Maxime van Wynsberghe | Toon Vandebosch | Niels Vandeputte | Thomas Verheyen |
| Arne Vrachten | Mathijs Wuyts |
Names are in alphabetical order. Startlist shown here is the one indicated the day before the race.
The Favourites
It will be an all-out battle in Lille as we are set to have a battle between the Baloise – Trek Lions and the Pauwels Sauzen riders, with no advantage given to any I’d say.
On the Trek side you have Toon Aerts, who rested today and is coming with to consolidate his lead in the X2O Trofee and also Lars van der Haar who has been on a great period of form, finishing runner-up in Fayetteville and third today despite a disastrous early crash. The latter specially should be fond of this explosive and technical circuit.
In the Pauwels side you have Laurens Sweeck, another rider in great form, who took the win today in Maldegem and Eli Iserbyt who finished second, who should also like the technical nature of the track. Additionally they have Michael Vanthourenhout as a weapon, he was riding strong today until he crashed out, but nevertheless should again be in the battle tomorrow, with Toon Vandebosch another possibility.
Outside of them you have the likes of Jens Adams, Tom Meeusen, Daan Soete, Niels Vandeputte, Felipe Orts, Kevin Kuhn and of course Corné van Kessel who should all be in the fight for the Top10 if not more, on the right day, and take advantage of a possible battle between the previous teams.
Prediction Time
1st– Lars van der Haar
2nd– Laurens Sweeck
3rd– Toon Aerts
4th– Eli Iserbyt
5th– Michael Vanthourenhout
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Tomorrow’s race has prizes of at least €200 and an entry fee of only €5. Make good use of your knowledge!
https://zweeler.com/game/cyclocross/FantasyKrawatencrossLilleX2OTrofeeMen20212022/main.php?ref=790
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