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In the last race of the 2021 UEC Continental Cyclocross Championships, after only a Junior Men’s title from the weekend, seven Belgians took their turn in the front group to ensure the European championship jersey remained on the team.

Lars van der Haar takes the 2021 (European) UEC Continental Cyclocross Championships, Elite Men, with a patient race. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

The Belgians did their best to keep the 2021 (European) UEC Continental Cyclocross Championships Elite Men’s title. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

One by one they faded from the lead, until halfway through the race it looked like Quinten Hermans had a commanding lead that would stick.

The Belgians burned their matches early but flamed out late. Lars van der Haar takes the 2021 (European) UEC Continental Cyclocross Championships, Elite Men, with a patient race. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

The Belgians burned their matches early but flamed out late. Lars van der Haar takes the 2021 (European) UEC Continental Cyclocross Championships, Elite Men, with a patient race. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Behind, a patient Lars van der Haar hoped to overcome a deficit he suffered from an early bike change, and overcome the Belgian armada and bring back the jersey to the Netherlands and his closet after taking the first-ever UEC title in 2015.

Pre-race favorite Eli Iserbyt faded to 12th, while Lars van der Haar didn't hit the front until the second-to-last lap. 2021 (European) UEC Continental Cyclocross Championships, Elite Men, with a patient race. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Pre-race favorite Eli Iserbyt faded to 12th, while Lars van der Haar didn’t hit the front until the second-to-last lap. 2021 (European) UEC Continental Cyclocross Championships, Elite Men, with a patient race. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

With two laps to go, Van der Haar closed the gap on Hermans. With one bad corner by Hermans, Van der Haar was finally at the front and wouldn’t look back.

Lars van der Haar takes the 2021 (European) UEC Continental Cyclocross Championships, Elite Men, with a patient race. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Lars van der Haar takes the 2021 (European) UEC Continental Cyclocross Championships, Elite Men, with a patient race. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Hermans lost ground to the Dutchman over the final two laps but would finish second. Vanthourenhout rolled in for third.

Lars van der Haar takes the 2021 (European) UEC Continental Cyclocross Championships, Elite Men, with a patient race. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Lars van der Haar takes the 2021 (European) UEC Continental Cyclocross Championships, Elite Men, with a patient race. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Van der Haar is the second Dutch Baloise Trek Lions rider to win the 2021 Elite UEC title after Lucinda Brand’s dominant win on Saturday. It was van der Haars first victory in over two years.

Full results below. See the results from the Junior Women’s race and thrilling U23 Men’s race here.

Lars van der Haar takes the 2021 (European) UEC Continental Cyclocross Championships, Elite Men, ahead of Belgians Quinten Hermans and Michael Vanthourenhout. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Lars van der Haar takes the 2021 (European) UEC Continental Cyclocross Championships, Elite Men, ahead of Belgians Quinten Hermans and Michael Vanthourenhout. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

2021 UEC European Cyclocross Championships Results: Elite Men

PosNrName NATTimeGap
19VAN DER HAAR LarsNED1:01:44-
23HERMANS QuintenBEL1:02:09+0:25
37VANTHOURENHOUT MichaelBEL1:02:38+0:54
46AERTS ToonBEL1:03:18+1:34
58SWEECK LaurensBEL1:03:36+1:52
65ADAMS JensBEL1:03:51+2:07
716DUBAU JoshuaFRA1:04:34+2:50
812NIEUWENHUIS JorisNED1:04:42+2:58
922DORIGONI JakobITA1:04:44+3:00
102SOETE DaanBEL1:04:49+3:05
114VANDEBOSCH ToonBEL1:05:17+3:33
121ISERBYT EliBEL1:05:20+3:36
1315MENUT DavidFRA1:05:34+3:50
1419KUHN KevinSUI1:06:01+4:17
1523MEISEN MarcelGER1:06:14+4:30
1618MOTTIEZ GillesSUI1:06:37+4:53
1713ORTS LLORET FelipeESP1:07:00+5:16
1817RÜEGG TimonSUI1:07:38+5:54
1921BERTOLINI GioeleITA-1 LAP
2011GODRIE StanNED-1 LAP
2126BOROŠ MichaelCZE-2 LAP
2227VANÍCEK ŠimonCZE-2 LAP
2324ANDERLE FlorianGER-2 LAP
2420LÜTHI EricSUI-3 LAP
2525HAMM FlorianGER-4 LAP
2629ERIKSSON DavidSWE-4 LAP
10VAN KESSEL CorneNEDDNF
28MEIN ThomasGBRDNF
14FEIJOO ALBERTE IvanESPDNF

2021 UEC (European) Continental Cyclocross Championships Photo Gallery:

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Lars van der Haar takes the 2021 (European) UEC Continental Cyclocross Championships, Elite Men, with a patient race. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Lars van der Haar takes the 2021 (European) UEC Continental Cyclocross Championships, Elite Men, with a patient race. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

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