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.
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
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
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
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
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
2021 UEC European Cyclocross Championships Results: Elite Men
| Pos | Nr | Name | NAT | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | VAN DER HAAR Lars | NED | 1:01:44 | - |
| 2 | 3 | HERMANS Quinten | BEL | 1:02:09 | +0:25 |
| 3 | 7 | VANTHOURENHOUT Michael | BEL | 1:02:38 | +0:54 |
| 4 | 6 | AERTS Toon | BEL | 1:03:18 | +1:34 |
| 5 | 8 | SWEECK Laurens | BEL | 1:03:36 | +1:52 |
| 6 | 5 | ADAMS Jens | BEL | 1:03:51 | +2:07 |
| 7 | 16 | DUBAU Joshua | FRA | 1:04:34 | +2:50 |
| 8 | 12 | NIEUWENHUIS Joris | NED | 1:04:42 | +2:58 |
| 9 | 22 | DORIGONI Jakob | ITA | 1:04:44 | +3:00 |
| 10 | 2 | SOETE Daan | BEL | 1:04:49 | +3:05 |
| 11 | 4 | VANDEBOSCH Toon | BEL | 1:05:17 | +3:33 |
| 12 | 1 | ISERBYT Eli | BEL | 1:05:20 | +3:36 |
| 13 | 15 | MENUT David | FRA | 1:05:34 | +3:50 |
| 14 | 19 | KUHN Kevin | SUI | 1:06:01 | +4:17 |
| 15 | 23 | MEISEN Marcel | GER | 1:06:14 | +4:30 |
| 16 | 18 | MOTTIEZ Gilles | SUI | 1:06:37 | +4:53 |
| 17 | 13 | ORTS LLORET Felipe | ESP | 1:07:00 | +5:16 |
| 18 | 17 | RÜEGG Timon | SUI | 1:07:38 | +5:54 |
| 19 | 21 | BERTOLINI Gioele | ITA | -1 LAP | |
| 20 | 11 | GODRIE Stan | NED | -1 LAP | |
| 21 | 26 | BOROŠ Michael | CZE | -2 LAP | |
| 22 | 27 | VANÍCEK Šimon | CZE | -2 LAP | |
| 23 | 24 | ANDERLE Florian | GER | -2 LAP | |
| 24 | 20 | LÜTHI Eric | SUI | -3 LAP | |
| 25 | 25 | HAMM Florian | GER | -4 LAP | |
| 26 | 29 | ERIKSSON David | SWE | -4 LAP | |
| 10 | VAN KESSEL Corne | NED | DNF | ||
| 28 | MEIN Thomas | GBR | DNF | ||
| 14 | FEIJOO ALBERTE Ivan | ESP | DNF |
2021 UEC (European) Continental Cyclocross Championships Photo Gallery:
Lars van der Haar takes the 2021 (European) UEC Continental Cyclocross Championships, Elite Men, with a patient race. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
