Tim Van Hemel took the national cross duathlon title at Retie in a very fast race. The offroad discipline of the run bike run attracted some strong athletes who were served a technical course in the sunny Retie. Van Hemel charged during the first run, was joined by Thomas Cremers, but after a swift transition Geert Lauryssen took the lead. Only Van Hemel could cling on and it became a battle for gold. In the women's race, Stefanie Adam proved to be the strongest.
During the first 4km run, Stefanie was pushed in the defensive by AG World Champion at Zofingen Virginie Soenen. The Walloon duathlete lacked skill on the MTB and lost quite some time on the 24km course, that much that she couldn't even make a claim on the podium. Stefanie Adam and Inge Roelandt were the other favorites. Roelandt fell ill after her victory last weekend in the BAIK X-duathlon and wasn't ideally prepared for this race. Besides there was no limit to Stefanie, who had no threat biking and running to victory. A BC cross duathlon is always paired with some drama concerning racing licences. Marieke Meert surprisingly took bronze overall because Sofie Driesen, completely cramped after the MTB leg, could not claim her medal due to not having a licence.
Kevin Van Hoovels was the only male without a licence engaging the front of the races. After his appearance at the Hel van Kasterlee he proudly calls himself a duathlete, but the first run was too fast for him. Only in the final lap he managed to merge with an existing group of three, containing Rik Thijs, Glen Laurens and Wouter Wuilmus. Nevertheless on a considerable gap to the lead of the race. Tim Van Hemel and Geert Lauryssen had more than a minute lead after the first lap.
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Geert tried to outsmart the opposition with a swift T2, but Van Hemel went in the final run on after burner and took a well earned victory. Geert Lauryssen had to make peace with the second silver in two years time, last year after Seppe Odeyn. Bronze went to Wouter Wuilmus who managed to gap Glen Laurens and Rik Thijs in the final run.
The Dutch Thomas Cremers came first Belofte on seventh overall, but did not qualify for the BC title. U23 national title went to Neal Van Vaerenbergh who managed to out run Lucas Van Deynze and Laurens Verluyten in the last part.
Paul Embrechts took a convincing win in the M40 category, in front of Wim De Coene and Niki Devoldere. M50 win went to Filiep Parein, out running William Busch. Dirk Mertens took bronze. Joel Demarets is the new M60 national champion.
The F40 category was as well dominated by Stefanie Adam and Inge Roelandt. Junior Marieke Meert was the best U23 in front of Kaat Van Eynde.
The coming days video- and pictures will be posted from this Belgian Championship at Retie.
Original article on 3athlon.be by Hans Cleemput on 11/03/2018
Translation by @T0v3