Team Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal relies on Iserbyt and Vanthourenhout: "Ronhaar and Van Empel left a void"
Cyclocross
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Follow us on GoogleThe cyclo-cross season is starting to pick up momentum, and so far, the races have been dominated by newly crowned European champion Thibau Nys. The Belgian son of Sven Nys is showing increasing composure in finishing crucial races. Aside from that, the emergence of new names stands out, along with the absence of wins from two well-established riders.
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For years, Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal has been led by the duo Eli Iserbyt and Michael Vanthourenhout. And now, this reliance is becoming more apparent. The two are having a lackluster season so far, and there is no one behind them to compensate for this weaker period. Staff member Jurgen Mettepenningen acknowledges the situation and continues to place his bets on Iserbyt and Vanthourenhout. "Don’t get me wrong: Eli’s condition is good. Whether he is as strong as last season, we will see in the coming weeks. But if things start to go his way, I expect a few wins from him," he told Belgian outlet Het Nieuwsblad.
The much-discussed pedal-stamping incident is now far behind us
Mettepenningen mainly relies on Iserbyt and Vanthourenhout at Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal
The incident involving Ryan Kamp is weeks in the past, yet Mettepenningen believes that, on the surface, it still affects Iserbyt. However, the team leader could not ignore the reality: without the many victories from last year, the squad, which has only two pros, suddenly feels thin. But this strategy is deliberate: "They are two pros who are consistently at the front. You could have five pros with only one fighting for the win and four others finishing at the back of the top ten."
"We chose to have two pros whom we reward well, but we also expect them to be at the front — and they are." The current lack of wins does not cause panic within the team. The team manager also notes that younger riders are performing well in cyclo-cross races. "They show up stronger than ever in the finals. This makes it increasingly difficult for the established names to compete for the podium."
Is there a focus on youth within the team? In the past, riders like Pim Ronhaar and Fem van Empel raced for the team, but according to Mettepenningen, they were hard to retain. "Ronhaar and Van Empel came up through our youth program. But they left the team and chose a different path. We have brought through many talents before them as well. I’m thinking of Gianni Vermeersch, Tim Merlier, Florian Vermeersch. So we certainly do have youth development, but because Ronhaar and Van Empel chose different routes, we were left with a certain void," Mettepenningen said about the team's focus on youth.
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- - I’m still learning how cyclocross works: when he says he messed up the start at the Europeans, can a bad start really make that much difference?patriciaw14-11-2026
- - Love that he’s honest about the pressure. Hopefully he can carry this form through the winter.lindae14-11-2026
- - Beating different competition is the key now. Nys is already in the mix, and Van der Poel could make the next step a much tougher one.jennifer1914-11-2026
- - About time—Mason’s been knocking on the door for years. That Niel win could really open things up for him.cadencekingm14-11-2026
- I’m still learning how cyclocross works—does leading the Superprestige mean Mason is top of that race series, rather than the World Cup? Either way, winning in Belgium sounds like a massive result.cadencekingm13-11-2026
- Calling Onley a contender for an overall Tour win already feels a bit premature, especially after the injury setbacks. Still, the depth of talent is exciting.robert6513-11-2026
- Great to see Dickson’s route from triathlon to the WorldTour getting recognition. Scottish cycling has plenty to be proud of, and the 2027 Grand Départ could give the next generation a real lift.patriciaw13-11-2026
- The article makes a good case for clubs and small teams doing the groundwork, rather than one big development pipeline. Thornley’s Vuelta time trials were seriously impressive too; missing a stage win by two seconds is brutal.davidm13-11-2026
- Mason winning in Niel is huge—beating that kind of Belgian field in the mud takes serious class. The Kelvingrove World Cup could be an unforgettable homecoming.breakawaybikerd13-11-2026
- I’m not sure how WorldTour licences work—could these reports affect whether the team gets one next year, or is that decision based on other criteria?velodromevirtuoso113-11-2026