Sunweb-Napoleon Games have finally taken their first victory in a major cyclo-cross race. Kevin Pauwels was the best in Ruddervoorde where he beat Wout van Aert and Sven Nys in the Superprestige race.

Kevin Pauwels already hit the front right from the sart, followed by Sven Nys, Radomir Simunek, Tom Meeusen, Jens Vandekinderen, Wout van Aert and Klaas Vantornout. "I finally had a good start," said Pauwels. "So I immediately wanted to accelerate. I went full gas for one lap." 

Meeusen, Nys and Simunek managed to keep up while the rest was dropped. Van Aert and Vantornout managed to get back to make it a sextet but it did not last long. Pauwels accelerated again and only Nys could follow. After Nys crashed, Pauwels was the lone leder.

"Why should I wait? I also noticed that Van Aert was not great. I was looking for a pace I could handle. Though I never expected that I could set the pace for an hour on my own. I admit that it was damn long." 

But Pauwels never looked to be in trouble. And his victory was never in danger. 

"I was worried once," he admitted. "When I noticed that Van Aert had rejoined Nys. Fortunately he could not complete his effort."

Thus Pauwels delivered a one-hour one-man show and he delivered Sunweb Napoleon Games manager Jurgen Mettepenningen the first victory in a majer cross this season.

"It was not just a question of a good course but some bad luck or a poor start in a few races meant that I could not win. Today I also had a super day."