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The 2022 GP Sven Nys in Baal, part of the X²O Badkamers Trofee series, offered up a new year and a new chance for Wout van Aert’s rivals to show that he can be beaten.

The racers put on a show at the 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

The racers put on a show at the 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Within a lap, it was Van Aert, Eli Iserbyt, Toon Aerts and Tom Pidcock who looked to ride away with the podium spots.

Wout van Aert overcame a crash and changing both shoes to win the 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Wout van Aert overcame a crash and changing both shoes to win the 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Michael Vanthourenhout soon made it a leading five.

With a slew of spectacular crashes, it certainly looked like the tough, muddy, rutted course could throw a wrench in Van Aert’s undefeated season. But it was Toon Aerts, Corne van Kessel and then Pidcock who stumbled early on. Pidcock recovered from his minor slip-up, but Aerts and Van Kessel, who changed his helmet in the pits, never factored again.

Van Aert looked dominant in the second half of the race, but a slip of his front wheel sent him sliding for ten feet, and then looking down at his shoes.

Pidcock served up a style and an exciting ride to finish second. 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Pidcock served up style and an exciting ride to finish second. 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Pidcock seized his chance, passed Van Aert before the pits, with Iserbyt close behind.

Van Aert swapped bikes and also a complete pair of shoes, giving a chance for Iserbyt to ride into second while Aert was changing all his treads.

Was Van Aert’s undefeated streak over?

Pidcock powered away with two and a half laps to go, but Van Aert wasn’t finished. He sprinted by Iserbyt, and closed the gap to Pidcock to under ten seconds with a lap to go.

For two laps, it looked like Pidockc's race to lose. 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

For two laps, it looked like Pidockc’s race to lose. 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Pidcock found the race one lap too long.

Pidcock trying to hold off Van Aert. 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Pidcock trying to hold off Van Aert. 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Van Aert caught the British champ and then ran away on a run-up to stay undefeated.

Wout van Aert overcame a crash and changing both shoes to win the 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Wout van Aert overcame a crash and changing both shoes to win the 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Pidcock rolled in for second, with Iserbyt finishing third, gaining some time back on series leader Aerts.

Pidcock, Van Aert and Iserbyt. 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Pidcock, Van Aert and Iserbyt. 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Photo gallery, highlights and results below.

2022 X²O Badkamers Trofee GP Sven Nys Baal Results: Elite Men

PlBibRiderTeamTime/Gap
128VAN AERT WoutJumbo Visma1:04:22
223PIDCOCK TomIneos Grenadiers0:10
325ISERBYT EliPauwels Sauzen - Bingoal0:29
429AERTS ToonBaloise Trek Lions1:16
529VANTHOURENHOUT MichaelPauwels Sauzen - Bingoal1:58
623TURNER BenIneos Grenadiers2:13
731VAN DER HAAR LarsBaloise Trek Lions2:25
830ADAMS Jens2:44
929SWEECK LaurensPauwels Sauzen - Bingoal2:48
1034MEEUSEN TomCX Team Deschacht - Group Hens - Maes Containers2:50
1127ORTS LLORET Felipe4:08
1223MEIN ThomasTormans - Circus Cyclo Cross Team5:14
1325LOOCKX LanderCX Team Deschacht - Group Hens - Maes Containers5:22
1427WHITE CurtisCannondale/Cyclocrossworld6:15
1524ROMBOUTS Seppe7:37
1625JUNQUERA SAN MILLAN MarioUnicaja Banco-Gijon7:41
1723BEKAERT YentlBaloise Trek Lions7:54
1823VRACHTEN Arne8:52
1924WUYTS Mathijs9:12
2026ALDERWEIRELD Robin
2124HECHT Gage
2228GROENEN Klaas
2330VAN DEN HAM Michael
2423HAMM FlorianTeam Schamel p/b Kloster Kitchen
2524THOMAS Victor
2638HAUSSLER Heinrich
2726DE MEYER Senne
2835JETTE Cameron
2931GINIAT Andrew
3023CAREME Grégory
3129HEIGL Philipp
3228LEARTS Yelle
3323BLOEM Joren
3425LANDO Nicholas
3533CLOUTIER Tyler
3631JACK Rory
3726TABURET Mathieu
3827HEYMES Gauthier
3926JUNGE Frederick
4023O'CONNOR Finnegan
4123BRUYNSEELS Greg
DNF31MAYER Yannick
DNF31VAN KESSEL CornéTormans - Circus Cyclo Cross Team

2022 GP Sven Nys Elite Men Photo Gallery:

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Wout van Aert overcame a crash and changing both shoes to win the 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Wout van Aert overcame a crash and changing both shoes to win the 2021 GP Sven Nys Baal, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

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