Geel (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) October 16, 2026 – Kempen endurance athlete Nick Peers secured a decisive victory in the men’s long-distance XL Strongman Cross-Duathlon in Geel, finishing over nine minutes ahead of his nearest competitor. In the women’s event, Birgit Massagé won a closely fought race, overtaking Christine Verdonck in the final stretch to cross the line just 16 seconds ahead. The off-road endurance event in the Antwerp province served as a key early-season test ahead of winter multi-sport competitions.
The XL Strongman Cross-Duathlon in Geel featured an 8-kilometre opening run, followed by a 60-kilometre mountain bike segment across technical off-road terrain, and concluded with an 8.1-kilometre final run. The event brought together premier regional cross-duathletes to kick off the Belgian winter multisport season.
In the men’s division, Nick Peers established early control of the race alongside Quinten Dewaele during the initial 8-kilometre run. However, it was during the 60-kilometre mountain bike section that Peers delivered his decisive attack. Peers posted a cycling sector time more than five minutes faster than his closest rival, Tim Van Hemel, building an unassailable lead heading into the final transition area.
Peers maintained a steady pace through the final 8.1-kilometre run, crossing the finish line in a total winning time of 3 hours, 02 minutes, and 19 seconds. Tim Van Hemel finished in second place with a time of 3 hours, 11 minutes, and 31 seconds, trailing Peers by 9 minutes and 12 seconds. Lucas Van Deynze completed the men’s podium in third place, recording a overall time of 3 hours, 12 minutes, and 48 seconds. Christophe Van Hoorebeeck, Geert Lauryssen, and Quinten Dewaele filled out the remaining top-six positions in the men’s long-distance classification.
The women’s competition unfolded as a closely contested battle from the opening discipline. Birgit Massagé made a strong initial start during the first run leg. During the 60-kilometre mountain bike discipline, Christine Verdonck mounted a swift pursuit, catching and passing Massagé before the midpoint of the cycling stage.
Verdonck maintained a solo pace at the front of the women’s field throughout the remainder of the bike leg. Massagé utilised groups of surrounding male competitors during the cycling section to limit her time loss before entering the final run segment. Massagé entered the second transition trailing Verdonck, but closed the gap in the final running segment. During the closing kilometre of the final 8.1-kilometre run, Massagé overtook Verdonck to claim victory in a total time of 3 hours, 42 minutes, and 34 seconds. Verdonck finished 16 seconds later, securing second place in 3 hours, 42 minutes, and 50 seconds. Dutch athlete Lotte Bakx finished in third place with a time of 3 hours, 46 minutes, and 01 seconds, followed by Joke Haemhouts in fourth and Pauline Druyts in fifth.
Alongside the long-distance race, Geel also hosted a recreational short-distance Strongman Cross-Duathlon consisting of a 2-kilometre run, a 24-kilometre mountain bike leg, and a 4-kilometre final run. Rube Vandenberk won the men’s recreational event in 1 hour, 17 minutes, and 09 seconds, ahead of Mathis Gouwkens (1:18:23) and Xander Lemmens (1:22:13). In the women’s recreational category, team Next Level (Zinni van Looy) placed first in 1 hour, 25 minutes, and 24 seconds, followed by Katrijn Bruyninckx (1:52:57) and Sinaii Kiveryn (1:57:06).
The performance of Nick Peers in Geel acts as a significant milestone in his preparations for upcoming major off-road winter endurance fixtures, including the prestigious Hel van Kasterlee cross-duathlon in December.
