Wout van Aert reunited with lost Garmin after Cyclo-cross World Championships
'It was definitely my best cyclocross race of the winter' say𒊎s former world champion pl⛄eased with silver-medal performance

168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Wout van Aert was reunited with his lost Garmin by two French children following the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Liévin.
The Belgian rider, who was held up at the start of the race after a fourth-row start, lost his watch on the circuit during the subsequent laps before finishing with the silver medal behind the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:elite men's race winner Mathieu va﷽n der Poel (Netherlands).
The three-time former cyclocross world champion was carrying out media duties after picking up his fifth runners-up me🔜dal at the podium ceremony when two c💞hildren approached him to return the device.
Van Aert thought both the watch and data we lost for good; however, the children reu൩nited the Belgian with his watch, which app🅷eared to have a broken strap.
"I lost my Garmin watch in the last🎐 lap, apparently. I was looking for it when I crossed the finish line, but these children found it apparently," 🅠said Van Aert to the media following the race while waiting for the podium ceremony to begin.
"It’s ripped apart, but my trainer will be happy to ha🍒ve some data from the race."
Van Aert came into a shortened cyclocross season having not raced since crashing out of the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Vuelta a España and suffering a serious ♈knee injury which requiredꦗ hospital treatment.
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However, after picking up two 'cross wins this season and finishing second at the Maasmechelen WorldCup last weekend, he 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:madཧe the surprise decision to compete in thisꦡ weekend’s Cyclo-cross World Championships.
The Belgian rider, who races for the trade team Visma-Lease a Bike, said tha🔯t taking the silver medal in Liévin just 45 seconds behind rival Van der Poel has shown his improvement.
"I did in🉐deed ride a very good race today. It was definitely my best 'cross of the winter. Outside of what I didn't control, that start, I was able to do what I wanted today and delivered the performance I had to," Van Aert said.
"I'll definitely take that with mཧe. If you don't work, we wouldn't participate in our achievement. It’s confirmation that I've gotten better and better from those 'cross races.
"I had hoped this winter and in this month that I would 'cross, that I would take every step forward. And I t🌊hink it worked."
Van Ae🅘rt had a fourth-row start in Liévin and lost 46 seconds during 🐠the first lap as he battled through from 37th position.
"I got the boxed in completely in the first corner and was held up a lot afterwards also. It took quite a while before I had some freedom. I had a few almost crashes, I would say," saꦜid Van Aert as he described the opening laps of the race♒.
When asked ab🌄out the rip in his shorts, Van Aert dispelled rumours that he crashe🦹d, saying: "I noticed only after the finish. I probably hit a barrier or something. I tried to stay calm and do my own race from the second lap onwards.
"I quickly noticed that𝓀 it was hard to come back [to🐼 Van der Poel]."
Van Aert will head to a final pre-season training camp before making his 2025 road debut on February 1ౠ7 at the🐲 Clásica Jaén.
The Belgian will then spend time at altitude in Tenerife ahea🔥d of his first 'big appointment' at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brus🐭sel-Kuurne on March 1 and 2.
"I'll switch to the (road) training agai💫n starting tomorrow," Van Aert said. "Opening weekend is the first big appointment in Beꦿlgium, and it's coming very soon.
When asked if his team were happy with the decision for him to ride ▨the World Championships? Van Aert repl𝐆ied: "I hope so. I will ask now."
Ben raced as an amateur cyclist in the UK from a young age into the senior ranks on the road, track and in cyclocross. He has an NQJ qualification in journalism, and a sports journalism degree, and has spent over 10 years as a news and sports journalist. Ben has been covering cyclocross for media outlets, including Cyclingnews, since 2021 and has been on t💎he ground reporting at World Championships in Zolder, Belvaux, Valkenberg, Dubendorf, and Hoogerheide. Away from cycling as a freelance sports journalist, Ben regularly reports on a range of sports includin🍒g football, rugby, and snooker amongst others. However, he is happiest whilst reporting on-site at cyclocross races in Belgium and the Netherlands.