Cycle cross: Wout Van Aert won his second World Cup race in a row in Namur today. With leader Mathieu Van der Poel only finishing third, Van Aert makes the race exciting again. For the women, on the other hand, there was a real surprise. Not the dominator Sanne Cant won, but the only 20-year-old Evie Richards. Loris Rouiller from Switzerland won the juniors.
Van der Poel has a bad day
Wout Van Aert (Crelan-Charles) seems to be turning the tide in 2017. After Mathieu Van der Poel won the first four World Cup races in Iowa City, Waterloo, Koksijde and Bogense, the reigning world champion is now striking back. Most recently he ended the winning streak of his biggest competitor in Zeven. Now he apparently wants to start one himself. Because at the World Cup in Namur today, too, he was the winner on the top of the podium. He was able to pull away very early on the difficult course due to starting difficulties and a fall by his opponent. As a soloist, he followed through with his plan to the end. Mathieu van der Poel clearly struggled today. However, the Dutchman still fought his way up to third place. Toon Aert (Telenet Fidea Lions) ensured a Belgian double victory. He crossed the finish line in second place 64 seconds late.
Het is not the day of Mathieu vd Poel...hij schuift voor de derde keer onderuit... #names #Namur #cyclocross.. pic.twitter.com/ZArIvhJtj5
— Ton Heijstek (@TonHeijstek1) 17 December 2017
First cross World Cup victory for Evie Richards
Unlike the men, there was a big surprise for the women of the guild. The serial winner Sanne Cant (Beobank-Corendon) had absolutely no chance on the difficult course around the citadel. After an unsuccessful start, she flew far behind right from the start. In the end it was still enough for twelfth place thanks to their courageous race to catch up. The biggest grin at the finish was definitely young Evie Richards (Trek). The only 20-year-old Brit celebrated her first victory in the World Cup and with it the greatest success of her young career. She already hinted at her huge talent last year when she became world champion in the U23 class. Her compatriot Nikki Brammeier (Boels-Dolmans) crossed the finish line 15 seconds after her. Italian Champion Eva Lechner (Clif Pro Team) was another nine seconds behind. The Swiss Jolanda Nef (Kross) was a strong eighth. Her compatriot Loris Rouiller did even better in the juniors. The Swiss won ahead of Dutchman Ryan Kamp and Briton Ben Tulett. In the U23 class, Brit Thomas Pidcock triumphed ahead of Belgian Eli Iserbyt and French Lucas Dubau.
What a ride! congrats, @eviee_alicee!! #cyclocross #namur #ucicxwc https://t.co/YmMr7MXe6x pic.twitter.com/fIDzvDl29K
— cyclephotos (@cyclephotos) 17 December 2017