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2021 Ethias Cross Essen was a mud pit filled with sharp turns that put the riders’ skills to the test.

Wout van Aert started off with a strong lead. He was light on his bike and maneuvered through the mud looking like he’s been riding cyclocross all season.

However, he had strong competition. Thijs Aerts and Pim Ronhaar were right on his tail.

ESSEN (BEL), CYCLOCROSS, DECEMBER 11: Wout van Aert

Wout van Aert maneuvers through the mud. 2021 Ethias Cross Essen, Elite Men © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

The battle was on between Van Aert and Ronhaar. Van Aert attacked but Ronhaar was on his tail the first lap and kept up the pressure.

At the start of Round 2, Van Aert slipped away from Ronhaar, and similar to his first outing at Superprestige Boom, never looked back.

ESSEN (BEL), CYCLOCROSS, DECEMBER 11: Wout van Aert: Pim Ronhaar

Wout van Aert battles Pim Ronhaar. 2021 Ethias Cross Essen, Elite Men © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

The group now consisted of Ronhaar, Lennert Belsman, Lander Loockx, and Aerts Thijs.

Aerts and Ronhaar battled for second but Aerts secured the lead late.

ESSEN (BEL), CYCLOCROSS, DECEMBER 11: Wout van Aert wins in Essen ahead of Thijs Aerts and Pim Ronhaar

Wout van Aert, Thijs Aerts, and Pim Ronhaar on the podium. 2021 Ethias Cross Essen, Elite Men © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

See full results and the photo gallery below.

2021 Ethias Cross Results Elite Men

#RiderAge*TeamTime
1VAN AERT Wout2757:21:00
2AERTS Thijs25BALOISE TREK LIONS1:47
3RONHAAR Pim20BALOISE TREK LIONS2:07
4LOOCKX Lander24CX TEAM DESCHACHT - GROUP HENS - MAES CONTAINERS2:19
5BELMANS Lennert19IKO - CRELAN2:25
6VERHEYEN Thomas243:52
7MEIN Thomas22TORMANS - CIRCUS CYCLO CROSS TEAM4:07
8ROMBOUTS Seppe234:13
9BARNES Toby21TEAM SCHAMEL P/B KLOSTER KITCHEN4:25
10GYS Jens324:36
11LAURYSSEN Yorben195:15
12VRACHTEN Arne225:31
13GROENEN Klaas275:49
14SIEMONS Julian225:58
15TORMANS Siebe246:08
16BRINKMAN Joost186:21
17BAERS Arne196:54
18PEMEN Dolf21PROXIMUS - ALPHAMOTORHOMES - DOLTCINI CT'
19TÖMKE Pascal21TEAM SCHAMEL P/B KLOSTER KITCHEN7:03
20VAN LIEROP Danny187:04
21HUYBS Ward19BALOISE TREK LIONS7:31
22DEGROOTE Jonas267:47
23VAN COMPERNOLLE Kenneth33
24UYTDEWILLIGEN Ingmar30
25DE MEYER Senne25
26CEUSTERS Rune18
27JANSSEN Lucas18
28LEARTS Yelle27
29ALDERWEIRELD Robin25
30JETTE Cameron34
31SLUYDTS Toon19
32D'HOLLANDER Senne19
33VAN HEIJST Jordi18
34DELNOIJE Rémon20
35CLAUWAERT Maarten21
36VAN CUTSEM Senna20
37PAUWELS Pieter18PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL
38HERRMANN Lukas20TEAM SCHAMEL P/B KLOSTER KITCHEN
39STRIK Dylan20
40GEENEN Yarne-Zias18
41HEYMES Gauthier26
42COOMAN Kjell18
DNFVAN DE PUTTE Victor19
DNFVERBEECK Glenn24
DNFDEJONGHE Len21CX TEAM DESCHACHT - GROUP HENS - MAES CONTAINERS
DNFVAN TRICHT Floris20
DNFVERMEERSCH Gianni29ALPECIN - FENIX
DNFAVONDTS Mathis18IKO - CRELAN
DNFPEERS Nick23

2021 Ethias Cross Photo Gallery: Elite Men

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ESSEN (BEL), CYCLOCROSS, DECEMBER 11:

Elite Men sprinting through the mud. 2021 Ethias Cross Essen (BEL), Elite Men © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

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