Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) won the Exact Cross Heerderstrand in the Netherlands on his return to racing after his three-race ban for stamping, putting his anger and frustration into the pedals rather than any of his rivals.
The Belgian national champion was disqualified from his first race of the season, the Exact Cross in Beringen, and then banned for three other races by the UCI for having intentionally stomping on rival Ryan Kamp's bike. He apologised and Kamp played down the spat but the three-race ban sparked huge controversy in Belgium.
Iserbyt started fast on the lake-side course, was chased down by Laurens Sweeck but then blew his rivals away on the fast corners of the course.
Pim Ronhaar (Baloise Trek Lions) came from behind to catch and pass Sweeck on the final lap to take second place. He was emotional at the finish after a recent family bereavement.
Spain's Felipe Orts (Ridley Racing team) crashed at speed in the dive to the first tight corner, sparking a scrum, but he got up, chased back and finished fifth.
Iserbyt was clearly on a mission to prove his critics wrong and get his cyclocross season back on track. He started fast and kept going, diving through the fast corners under the trees and powering along the lake shore in the compact and in the deep sand sections.
Sweeck and Ronhaar managed to close the gap on Iserbyt early on but then he surged away yet again, every time they got to his wheel.
"I had my mind set on it. I had no grudge or feelings of revenge, I just wanted to have a good race," Iserbyt said.
"Sweeck and Ronhaar were still fighting, so it was an hour of full throttle. Fortunately, I found a tailor-made course here with lots of twists and turns. Without the sand it might have been a bit easier.
Iserbyt will also be chasing victory in the Overijse Superprestige race on Sunday.
"I will feel this effort but it was the first race in which I felt reasonably good," he said.
"It's always important to get that first win. The ranking in the Superprestige is still the goal, although it will be very difficult because of the absence of Ruddervoorde. But that is still my focus."
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