The men’s event saw Toon Aerts lead the opening laps of the event, with the Belgian followed by chasers including Vanthourenhout and Britain’s Tom Pidcock.

A crash and puncture saw Aerts’ advantage evaporate.

Pidcock took the lead and appeared on course for consecutive World Cup victories, following his triumph in Rucphen yesterday.

An error allowed Vanthourenhout to close the gap, with the 28-year-old taking the lead after Pidcock suffered a crash on the penultimate lap.

Vanthourenhout remained clear to secure World Cup victory in a time of 59min 28sec.

Pidcock finished as the runner-up after crossing the line 36sec adrift of the winner.

Aerts completed the podium places at 51sec down, followed by fellow Belgians Quinten Hermans and Eli Iserbyt at 1:38 and 2:01 behind.

The fifth-place finish was Iserbyt’s lowest of the World Cup season to date, with the result keeping him comfortably clear at the top of the standings.

Iserbyt has 358 points after 11 of the 15 World Cup events, with Vanthourenhout lying second on 268.

World champion Lucinda Brand produced a strong display to win the women’s race in Namur.

Brand led from the start of the event, with the Dutch star tracked throughout by compatriot Denise Betsema.

Betsema was unable to close the gap in the final lap of the race, with Brand triumphing in a time of 53:07.

Brand has now won the Namur leg of the World Cup circuit for the past four years.

She finished with a 20sec cushion over Betsema, who finished as the runner-up.

Puck Pieterse completed the podium places 1:16 behind the winner, with Dutch riders securing top-five finishes in the event.

Brand extends her lead in the World Cup standings, moving onto a total of 322 points.

Betsema is 23 points behind heading into the final four races of the season.