Basque CX roundup from Koksijde World Cup

A full contingent of Basque cyclocross racers made there way up to the rainy Belgian coast for today's UCI World Cup race at the famous sand dunes of Koksijde. With World Cup races being run under national federations, the majority of the Spanish National team was made up of Basque riders.While there were no outstanding results today on a course that is notoriously dominated by Belgians, there were signs of promise.

Jonathan Lastra led the Spanish contingent in the U23 race along with the Basque twins, Jon and Iñigo Gomez. Having stated in his interview with Basque Cycling News that he was not happy with his World Cup performances this year, Lastra was looking to improve on his 30th and 34th places from the previous two World Cup rounds in Tabor and Plzen, respectively. Koksijde is a course that does not forgive and Lastra had an uphill battle against him all day since sand is not an element that features much in Spanish cyclocross. While not being able to improve on his results, Lastra rode a solid race, finishing in 32nd place, 5'33" behind winner Wietse Bosmans, and it was a major improvement on his 53rd place last year. The Gomez brothers did relatively well with Iñigo finishing in 33rd, 5'38" behind, and Jon finishing in 36th, 6'32" behind.

• 1. Wietse Bosmans (Belgium)
• 32. Jonathan Lastra (Spain) +5'33"
• 33. Iñigo Gomez (Spain +5'38"
• 36. Jon Gomez (Spain) +6'32"

Lierni Lekuona Extebeste, who is only 17 years old, flew the flag in the women's race, trying her best to keep up with the more experienced women, some who are double her age. Lekuona was able to finish in a group that finished one lap down in 33rd place, behind a flying Katie Compton (USA). 

The elite men's race included Basque stalwart Egoitz Murgoitio, who was coming off a 7th place in the French Cup race at Besançon. Javier Ruiz de Larrinaga was included on the startlist but still seems to be bouncing back from his injuries from a fall at Muskiz. Murgoitio, who was 16th at the World Championships at Koksijde last year, had high hopes for a high finish today but he had to contend with a redesigned course and a course that was soaked with rain. While not being able to replicate that result, Murgoitio had a decent race that left him finishing in 34th place, 6'31" behind an incredible Sven Nys. 

• 1. Sven Nys (Belgium)
• 32. Egoitz Murgoitio (Spain)

Photo: Eunate Fernandez