The annual season-end bike party known as the Soudal Classics Masters took place on Wednesday in Waregem.
The race is famous for the high-jump contest as well as an event with a twist held before the two Elite races. Last year, riders did a “hold your horses” race where they had to track stand or hop in place at the start line before doing a short race. Two years ago, it was a superteam relay race.
The Obstacle Course
This year it was a Cyclocross Trial where riders had to use deft handling to navigate around a number of obstacles.
Straffe toeren van Niels Vandeputte in de Cyclocross Trial 😱.
Slechts 1 foutje en voorlopig de beste renner van het pak. Wie doet er nog beter?#SoudalClassics @IKO_Beobank pic.twitter.com/aGy1otNUCE— Soudal Classics (@SoudalClassics) February 20, 2019
Marion Riberolle (Vandermolen Cycling Team) won the Women’s contest by making the fewest errors, and Vincent Baestaens (VZW Koninklijke Stoempersclub) rode the course perfectly to win for the Men.
The High Jump
The rest of the event proved to be a memorable one.
First up, what we all came for: the high jump contest—or hoogspringen. Two years ago, Jan Denuwelaere unseated Mister High Jump Tom Meeusen with his soaring 80cm-high hop.
Incredible! New world record high jump voor @Janneman__ 80 cm 😱👍🏻💪#cyclocross #CyclocrossMasters #veldrijden pic.twitter.com/6TUiHMOtxR
— Soudal Classics (@SoudalClassics) February 22, 2017
After losing his title, Meeusen had an underwhelming outing in 2018, clearing only the 60cm-high rod before failing at the 65cm height. This year, Meeusen was dialed in and ready to soar to heights only hit once before.
After Niels Vanderputte (IKO – Beobank), Michael Vanthourenhout (Marlux – Bingoal) and Nicholas Cleppe (Telenet Fidea Lions) could not clear the 65cm bar, it was down to Meeusen and Dieter Vanthourenhout (Marlux – Bingoal).
Meeusen cleared the hit the 70cm jump, while Vanthourenhout could not. Meeusen’s aerial prowess set up a shot at equaling Denuwelaere’s record.
Last man standing! @TomMeeusen over 70 cm, de lat gaat naar 80 cm pic.twitter.com/pk64mrEv3d
— Soudal Classics (@SoudalClassics) February 20, 2019
With high jumping immortality on the line (or at least until someone clears 90cm), Meeusen lived up to his billing as Mister High Jump by skying and contorting over the bar to equal the Ion High Jump record.
Wauw! @TomMeeusen vliegt over 80 cm en evenaart het record van Jan Denuwelaere 😱😱😱#SoudalClassics pic.twitter.com/7LXIY05p7G
— Soudal Classics (@SoudalClassics) February 20, 2019
The Races
The Soudal Classics Masters takes place in a fan-friendly, urban setting, so the courses usually included any number of interesting obstacles. This year, one of the marquee features was a ride down several flights of stairs—with some help. Women’s races are 20 minutes, Men’s races 30 minutes.
En dit moet de langste trap van het seizoen zijn…#SoudalClassics pic.twitter.com/A5jl5DRF4r
— Soudal Classics (@SoudalClassics) February 20, 2019
On Monday, Helen Wyman (Experza – Footlogix) announced she is retiring from cyclocross after this Sunday’s race in Oostmalle. In poetic fashion, Wyman got the win in the race in Waregem on Wednesday evening.
Alice Maria Arzuffi (Steylaerts – 777) finished second and Ellen Van Loy (Telenet Fidea Lions) took third.
Tijd voor cross!
Helen Wyman wint de Soudal Cyclocross Masters bij de dames! Alice Maria Arzuffi en Ellen Van Loy mogen straks mee op het podium!#SoudalClassics pic.twitter.com/jQS2PHtTED— Soudal Classics (@SoudalClassics) February 20, 2019
In the Men’s race, Toon Aerts (Telenet Fidea Lions) took the win, with Michael Vanthourenhout (Marlux – Bingoal) taking second and Laurens Sweeck (Pauwels Sauzen – Vastgoedservice) third.
Winst voor de Belgische kampioen in Waregem! Proficiat Toon Aerts!
🥇 @ToAerts
🥈 Michael Vanthourenhout
🥉 @LaurensSweeck #SoudalClassics pic.twitter.com/xSYLs959A5— Soudal Classics (@SoudalClassics) February 20, 2019
Race results are below.
Elite Women's Results: 2019 Soudal Classics Masters
| Place | Nr | Name | Country | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | WYMAN Helen | GBR | EXPERZA - FOOTLOGIX | 0h20´27.0" |
| 2 | 4 | ARZUFFI Alice Maria | ITA | STEYLAERTS - 777 | 0h20´27.0" |
| 3 | 5 | VAN LOY Ellen | BEL | TELENET FIDEA LIONS | 0h20´27.0" |
| 4 | 7 | VERDONSCHOT Laura | BEL | MARLUX - BINGOAL CYCLING TEAM | 0h20´27.0" |
| 5 | 8 | KAPTHEIJNS Maud | NED | CHARLES CX TEAM | 0h20´27.0" |
| 6 | 6 | RIBEROLLE Marion Norbert | FRA | VONDELMOLEN CYCLING TEAM | 0h20´27.0" |
| 7 | 10 | VANDERBEKEN Joyce | BEL | TEAM MAHIEU - KONA - VANDERMEE | 0h20´39.0" |
| 8 | 11 | HANNES Kaat | BEL | WIELERVERENIGING ZEEUWSVLAANDE | 0h21´11.0" |
| 9 | 12 | VAN DER PUTTE Kim | BEL | BIKE ADVICE | 0h21'31.0" |
Elite Men Results: 2019 Soudal Classics Masters
| Place | Nr | Name | Country | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | AERTS Toon | BEL | TELENET FIDEA LIONS | 0h29´04.0" |
| 2 | 2 | VANTHOURENHOUT Michael | BEL | MARLUX - BINGOAL CYCLING TEAM | 0h29´06.0" |
| 3 | 3 | SWEECK Laurens | BEL | PAUWELS SAUZEN-VASTGOEDSERVICE | 0h29´11.0" |
| 4 | 5 | VAN DER HAAR Lars | NED | TELENET FIDEA LIONS | 0h29´11.0" |
| 5 | 6 | VAN KESSEL Corne | NED | TELENET FIDEA LIONS | 0h29´11.0" |
| 6 | 7 | ISERBYT Eli | BEL | MARLUX - BINGOAL CYCLING TEAM | 0h29´11.0" |
| 7 | 8 | MERLIER Tim | BEL | PAUWELS SAUZEN - VASTGOEDSERVI | 0h29´11.0" |
| 8 | 14 | CLEPPE Nicolas | BEL | TELENET FIDEA LIONS | 0h29´11.0" |
| 9 | 9 | PAUWELS Kevin | BEL | MARLUX - BINGOAL CYCLING TEAM | 0h29´11.0" |
| 10 | 17 | VANTHOURENHOUT Dieter | BEL | MARLUX BINGOAL CYCLING TEAM | 0h29´11.0" |
| 11 | 10 | MEEUSEN Tom | BEL | CORENDON - CIRCUS | 0h29´11.0" |
| 12 | 11 | AERNOUTS Jim | BEL | TELENET FIDEA LIONS | 0h29´11.0" |
| 13 | 13 | BAESTAENS Vincent | BEL | VZW KONINKLIJKE STOEMPERSCLUB | 0h29´11.0" |
| 14 | 16 | WOUTERS Sieben | NED | CREAFIN - TUV SUD | 0h29´29.0" |
| 15 | 15 | SWEECK Diether | BEL | PAUWELS SAUZEN-VASTGOEDSERVICE | 0h29´29.0" |
| 16 | 20 | VANDEPUTTE Niels | BEL | CORENDON - CIRCUS | 0h29´31.0" |
| 17 | 22 | UYTDEWILLIGEN Ingmar | BEL | TARTELETTO - ISOREX | 0h29´37.0" |
| 18 | 21 | BEKAERT Yentl | BEL | TELENET FIDEA LIONS | 0h29´39.0" |
| 19 | 18 | MERLIER Braam | BEL | STEYLAERTS - BETFIRST | 0h29´39.0" |
| 20 | 23 | ALDERWEIRELD Robin | BEL | TEAM MAHIEU - KONA - VANDERMEE | 0h29´42.0" |
| 21 | 24 | DE SMET Thibaut | BEL | TARTELETTO ISOREX - CX TEAM | 0h30´09.0" |
| 22 | 19 | TEIRLINCK Jens | BEL | VAN EYCK SPORT | 0h31´02.0" |
