Belgium strikes in the final and the Netherlands wins the Sidecarcross of Nations!
Team Netherlands took the country title in the sidecar cross with Bax/Janssens, Veldman/Cermak and Keuben/Debruyne. Until the second heat, the Netherlands and Belgium were neck and neck, but Belgium did not start in the 3rd and final heat! Both Belgian teams found the weather too bad to stand at the starting gate, clearing the way for the Netherlands to extend the title in the French mud. Switzerland would come second and France's B team surprisingly finished third in Dardon Gneugnon.
In the first heat it was Vanluchene/Bax on behalf of Belgium and Veldman/Cermak on behalf of the Netherlands who set the tone by claiming first and second place.
However, there was great consternation after the finish when it turned out that both Vanluchene and Veldman were put back ten places in the results! Both teams were said to have driven too fast, literally jumping, while the medical flag was being waved. For example, team Belgium suddenly scored tenth place and the Netherlands eleventh place. A big downer! However, both the Netherlands and Belgium have three combinations that can compete for the top spots. The other irons in the apparently too hot fire scored a second place in the final result, Sanders/Badaire on behalf of Belgium and a third place, Bax/Janssen on behalf of team Netherlands. The Czech Cerny now won the heat, but the other team from the Czech Republic, the Boukal brothers, dropped out. Both Switzerland and France took mid-table spots in the first heat. In fact, everything was still open after the first heat, especially due to the relegation of both Vanluchene and Veldman to places 10 and 11.
As if stung by a wasp, Veldman/Cermak wanted to take revenge in the second heat on a now soaked track. Even in the oily French clay, the frog and the bee apparently feel like a fish in water because team Netherlands now took first place! The Swiss Heinzer/Schelbert and their left sidecar were the only ones who could stay in the footsteps of Veldman/Cermak and ten seconds after the winner they came in second. Vandaele/Smeuninx then finished third on behalf of team Belgium. The Italian brothers Lasagna took fourth place ahead of the squadra azzuri and then it was the other sidecars from the Netherlands and Belgium who entered. Keuben/Debruyne finished fifth and shortly afterwards Sanders/Badaire came in sixth. Of all six finish places per country, the lowest finish place may be deleted. Without dropping a single result after four results in two heats, the score was very exciting. The Orange Armada led the way with 22 penalties for the Netherlands, just behind them were the Belgian Red Stallions with 23 points and in third place we saw Switzerland with 24 points.
At the start of the last and all-deciding heat, there is a lot of surprise when everyone sees that both combinations of team Belgium, Vanluchene/Bax and Vandaele/Smeuninx, are not at the starting gate!
It turns out that both teams find the muddy conditions on the flooded dirt track too dangerous to start! In this way, the title is almost given away to the Netherlands who are ready to dive into the mud. Etienne Bax does what he has to do with occasional baking player Glenn Janssens and takes first place with half a minute lead and the win for the Netherlands! In this way, Bax/Janssens, Veldman/Cermak and Keuben/Debruyne extend the Landen trophy, which is once again taken back to the Netherlands! Heinzer/Betschart finished second and took second place ahead of Switzerland in the overall standings in the wet French clay! There is also reason to cheer for the home crowd when it turns out that the French B team, partly due to Belgium not starting, is awarded third place in the final standings.
Text: Emil Bilars
Photo: Sidecarcross.be
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