Cycling: Mathieu van der Poel has been crowned cyclocross world champion for the sixth time. The Dutchman didn't give the competition in Tabor, Czech Republic, the slightest chance in the absence of Wout van Aert and Thomas Pidcock. In the women's race, his compatriot Fem van Empel triumphed no less confidently.
Van der Poel makes things clear early on
As expected Mathieu van der Poel secured the next world title at the Cycling World Championships in Tabor. For the sixth time, the Dutchman is crowned the best cyclocross rider in the world. He is now only one title behind the Belgian Erik De Vlaeminck. In the absence of Wout van Aert and Thomas Pidcock, the Dutchman secured himself Joris Nieuwenhuis and the Belgian Michael Vanthourenhout the silver or bronze medal. The Dutchman became U23 world champion Tibor del Grosso. The Italian triumphed in the juniors Stefano Viezzi.
Fem van Empel also makes it clear
It wasn't really exciting in the women's World Cup race either. Fem van Empel lived up to her role as favorite and ultimately crossed the finish line with a lead of 1:20 minutes over her compatriot Lucinda Brand. Bronze went on Puck Pieterse near Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado. This puts the Dutch in the top four places at the World Cup. The Brit won the U23 class Zoe Backstedt and in the juniors the Frenchwoman had Celia Gery the nose ahead.
6️⃣ – !
Mathieu van der Poel really is the “King of Cross”! #Tabor2024 pic.twitter.com/O6PHpJTxSV
- Eurosport (@eurosport) February 4, 2024
Women Elite at the 2024 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships:
Fem van Empel (NED)
Lucinda Brand (NED)
Puck Pieterse (NED) #Tabor2024 pic.twitter.com/hLaHSlTKMU— UCI Cyclocross (@UCI_CX) February 3, 2024