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This Thursday’s Azencross race in Loenhout should be one to watch. The storied event not only hosts the infamous pump track rollers, but also has been the site of some pretty intense battles, whether it was between Sven Nys and a beer-throwing fan, or an early battle between U23 racers Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert back in 2014 showing up the Elite Men.

The carpeted rollers of Azencross was a brief respite from the heavy mud of Loenhout. 2014 Bpost Bank Trophy race #6.

The carpeted rollers of Azencross was a brief respite from the heavy mud of Loenhout. 2014 Bpost Bank Trophy race #6.

The race between the last two World Champions, before they won their Elite titles, was a great one, and several times the battle came to a head, literally, in a tricky hairpin turn in deep mud.

Azencross Loenhout 2014 - Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert

Azencross Loenhout 2014 – Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert

We’ve got highlights from that awesomely muddy men’s race for you today. Enjoy them below, and stay tuned for full coverage on Thursday of the 2016 Azencross race in Loenhout, the next stop of the DVV Verzekeringen Trofee series.

Most of the top racers including the current and former World Champions of Wout van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel, Zdenek Stybar, Lars Boom, Thalita de Jong and Marianne Vos will be lining up.