Lars van der Haar rides solo to regain Dutch cyclo-cross national title
Van Kessel takes silver ahead of U23 World Cup leader Hendrikx

Lars van der Haar recaptured an evasive title at the Dutch Cyclo-cross National Championships on Sunday, taking a solo victory with an uncontested ride in Rucphen.
The battle for silver was a duel between 21-year-old Mees Hendrikx and veteran Corné van Kessel. The 30-year-old broke free of the current U23 World Cup leader on the final lap to finish second, leaving the bronze to Hendrikx.
Under bright sunshine the reigning European Champion broke a string of three consecutive runner-up finishes to Mathieu van der Poel, who pulled out of the Heusden-Zolder Superprestige, his second cyclo-cross race of the winter, due to a recurring back injury and discontinued his off-road season.
Van der Haar last won the Dutch title in back-to-back years, 2013 and 2014, then Van der Poel proved best for the next six editions. He broke free from all competitors after the first lap for solo laps on the course, unlike his World Cup win in Tabor earlier this season where he managed to distance World Cup leader Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) and Quinten Hermans (Tormans - Circus Cyclo Cross Team) by 11 and 15 seconds, respectively.
"I felt that I could really only lose here," Van der Haar reflected at the finish in his comments to Sporza.
"I was going to divide my race into sections. The last two rounds I was able to slow down a bit, just drive at my own pace. It was clear, I could see exactly where my competitors were driving."
Only the newly-crowned Dutch champion and Van Kessel will represent the Netherlands for the elite men at the World Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas at the end of the month.
"I think I was actually better around the European Championship than today. I'm mainly training very hard now and focusing on the World [Championship]. Getting another jersey would be really special."
Pos. | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Lars van der Haar | 1:02:05 |
2 | Corne van Kessel | 0:00:51 |
3 | Mees Hendrikx | 0:00:58 |
4 | Ryan Kamp | 0:01:23 |
5 | Pim Ronhaar | 0:02:17 |
6 | David van der Poel | |
7 | Stan Godrie | 0:03:06 |
8 | Danny van Lierop | 0:03:22 |
9 | Tibor del Grosso | |
10 | Luke Verburg | 0:04:07 |
11 | Bailey Groenendaal | |
12 | Gosse van der Meer | 0:05:16 |
13 | Klaas Groenen | 0:05:24 |
14 | Koen van Dijke | |
15 | Lucas Janssen | 0:05:50 |
16 | Hugo Kars | |
17 | Joost Brinkman | 0:06:35 |
18 | Joren Bloem | 0:07:42 |
19 | Salvador Alvarado | |
20 | Pete Uptegrove | |
21 | Gert-Jan Bosman | |
22 | Jardi Christiaan van der Lee | |
23 | Marco Ehlert | |
24 | Paul Snip | |
25 | Koen van Helvoirt | |
26 | Dylan Strik | |
27 | Marino Noordam | |
28 | Max Goris | |
29 | Bart de Veer | |
30 | Lucas Keuning | |
31 | Chris van Dijk | |
32 | Robin van Poppel | |
33 | Mike Bronswijk | |
34 | Omar Koudijs | |
35 | Lars van Ark | |
36 | James Potter | |
37 | Sam Oosterholt | |
38 | Sam Kerkvliet | |
39 | Niek Hoornsman | |
40 | Niels Verbruggen | |
41 | Menno van Capel | |
42 | Perry Wit | |
43 | Jesse Sytema | |
44 | Luuk Holslag | |
45 | Lars de Weerd | |
46 | Bas van der Burg | |
47 | Beau van Izerloo | |
48 | Vincent Fackeldey | |
49 | Hugo Jansen | |
50 | Jasir Kuiper | |
51 | Sam Errens | |
52 | Wessel Coppelmans | |
53 | Yoep van der Peet | |
54 | Stef Hendriks | |
55 | Lucas Brandt | |
56 | Jordi Steenbakkers | |
DNF | Mike Hooiveld | |
DNF | Dennis Brouwer | |
DNF | Twan van der Drift | |
DNF | Stef Ter Laak |
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Cyclingnews is the world's leader in English-language coverage of professional cycling. Started in 1995 by University of Newcastle professor Bill Mitchell, the site was one of the first to provide breaking news and results over the internet in English. The site was purchased by Knapp Communications in 1999, and owner Gerard Knapp built it into the definitive voice of pro cycling. Since then, major publishing house Future PLC has owned the site and expanded it to include top features, news, results, photos and tech reporting. The site continues to be the most comprehensive and authoritative English voice in professional cycling.
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Budget shortfall to blame for second cancellation of CIC-Mont Ventoux in June
'Giant of Provence' was set to serve as tester for stage 16 of Tour de France -
First-time altitude camp for Kristen Faulkner sets up 'real fitness' for Ardennes Classics and Grand Tours
Double gold Olympic champion makes pitch for fans to send her video reactions from solo road race victory -
'Close to the real shape' - No wins yet in 2025 but Lotte Kopecky approaches peak in bid to reclaim Tour of Flanders crown
World champion collects prestigious Belgian National Trophy for Sporting Merit in Brussels, an award athletes can win only once -
Dwars door Vlaanderen Women 2025 start list
Marianne Vos returns to defend title in pre-Tour of Flanders Spring Classic