20-year-old Vandenbranden claimed the U23 title in style: with a Belgian record of 4’10’537 for 4km. The professional from Flanders-Paloise was much stronger than Briton Josh Charlton (4’11’732). In the final. . Thibaut Bernard couldn’t get through qualifying with the eighth fastest time (4’16” 578).
Vandenbranden posted the fastest time in qualifying with a time of 4’10’739, also a BR. In the spring he placed eighth at the European Championships among the elite with a record of 4’12’122.
Katrijn De Clercq took silver in the women’s elimination promise. She just had to put up with Dutchman Mike van der Duyne. There was also silver for Gianluca Polivelte in the U23 boys’ elimination, behind Germany’s Tim Teutenberg.
The Belgian delegation also won two bronze medals in the junior category. Nicola Aarnots, Thorfinn Mertens and Yeno Wengerhoets took third place in the junior team sprint (47 seconds and 314 minutes), while Larkie Expels reached the podium in the junior women’s category.
Marithe Vanhoof (3’40’112) finished fourth in the U23 individual race, losing the bronze medal to Austria’s Leila Gschwentner (3’34’600). Louis Waits placed sixth in the junior boys category.
