Farewell by big gate: Kevin Pauwels put high point on his career with profit in closing price Oostmalle

Cross, Kevin Pauwels his career as a cyclist ended with a pedal point. The chasing rider of Marlux-Bingoal won the closing price in Oostmalle. He took it after an exciting duel with Toon Aerts. A farewell through the big gate.

Opstuivend sand in the Sluitinsprijs of Oostmalle. Dry and sunny conditions for the final cross from the career of Kevin Pauwels. The ‘Silent from the Kempen region’ of Marlux-Bingoal gives there after this season on his 34th stop. The end point of a successful career with two times ended in the world Cup. But first, crosses in Oostmalle.

And there could Pauwels is still one last time for charging. The holeshot took he did not, but in the back of Thijs Aerts appeared strikingly Kempenaar, however, as the second the field. A striking wedstrijdbegin so, that again, was seasoned by a demarrage of Pauwels at the start of the second round.

The winner of Oostmalle in 2016 got a moment of freedom, but saw later, Belgian champion Show Aerts return. Also Tom Meeusen hooked his trolley. With z’n threes they carried the weight of the race, for behind them yawned the great void. All the ingredients for a thrilling denouement, were present.

It had Meeusen as first the towel to throw in. Aerts and Pauwels were slightly stronger and had themselves enjoyed a duel of. Especially Pauwels drove the grinta of in its best days around. An attack of Aerts was with the appropriate currency countered. Aerts gave is not immediately won over, but a vivid Pauwels forced the Belgian champion in the penultimate round to a mistake.

The result was a secondenspel in the final lap. Pauwels defended in his last meters if prof a lead of five seconds with hand and tooth. Aerts approached yet, but could the gap just do not seal. The end did feel like a fairy tale to read. Pauwels won his last cross as a cyclist. On his 34th a high point after a great career in the field.