The other big televised race last weekend was the #Kasteelcross in #Zonnebeke. A great example of a more old-school course.
#CXcoursereviews
https://jensdekkerblog.wordpress.com/2023/01/26/cx-course-reviews-2022-2023-zonnebeke/

Despite a weather forecast with storm, the #Kasteelcross in Hulst is being contested today. Thibau Nys has already won the junior's race, the women are due to start at 1:45pm, so in 15mins. The course is pretty cool as the entrenchments serve up some ascents and descents. And yes: There is a windmill on the course! #cyclocross

#Zonnebeke, men's #Kasteelcross, result:
1. Mathieu van der Poel, NED, in 1:01.06 hours
2. Wout Van Aert, BEL, at + 0.36
3. Jens Adams, BEL + 1.20
4. Wietse Bosmans, BEL, + 1.28
5. Eli Iserbyt, BEL, + 1.31
6. David van der Poel, NED + 2.05
7. Felipe Orts, ESP, st
8. Gianni Vermeersch, BEL + 2.44
9. Vincent Baestaens, BEL, st
10. Nicolas Cleppe, BEL
Good training for Mathieu for the Worlds on how to ride with four Belgians trying to mark him.
#cyclocross

In a surprising plot twist, Jens Adams has dropped Eli Iserbyt and Wietse Bosmans at the beginning of the final lap. For Mathieu van der Poel, one last loop in the mud is all that separates him from another win in this #cyclocross season. #Zonnebeke #Kasteelcross

With three laps to go in #Zonnebeke's #Kasteelcross of the men, Wout van Aert is about 30secs adrift of the race leader Mathieu van der Poel. Adams, Iserbyt and Bosmans are more than a minute behind. #cyclocross

In lap 6, Mathieu van der Poel gets the tricky off-camber section of #Zonnebeke's #Kasteelcross right for the first time, riding it and clearing two muddy ditches. His brother David did this earlier in the race as well. Further back, Iserbyt has been caught by Jens Adams and Wietse Bosmans. #cyclocross

The lead group has been blown apart by the acceleration of Mathieu van der Poel: Wout Van Aert can't get any closer, but he's got a gap over Eli Iserbyt. Jens Adams and Wietse Bosmans have lost contact. #Zonnebeke #Kasteelcross #cyclocross

Half an hour into the men's #Kasteelcross, Mathieu van der Poel has attacked and distanced Van Aert. Iserbyt tries to react but he was a bit too far behind. Has this been the decisive moment? Van der Poel has 8secs on his chasers. #Zonnebeke #cyclocross

20mins into the men's #Kasteelcross in #Zonnebeke, five riders have separated themselves at the shapr end of the race with Wout Van Aert, Eli Iserbyt, Jens Adams, Mathieu van der Poel and Wietse Bosmans. Van Aert is cranking up the pressure now. Three laps done, seven laps to go. So the race jury has gone for 10 laps for the men's race. #cyclocross

A bit surprisingly Jens Adams has taken the lead after 2 laps, with Wout Van Aert in 2nd and Mathieu van der Poel moving up to 3rd with Eli Iserbyt on his wheel. The race distance at the men's #Kasteelcross in #Zonnebeke will likely be 10 laps, but that has not been confirmed yet. #cyclocross