Cycling: Thomas Pidcock lived up to his role as favorite in the men's cyclocross world championship race. The Brit won gold ahead of Dutchman Lars van der Haar. The Swiss Jan Christen triumphed in the juniors. Puck Pieterse from the Netherlands celebrated in the women's U23 class.
Pidcock wins confidently as a soloist
After the cancellations of Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel, a new favorite for the cyclocross world championships was quickly identified: Thomas Pidcock. And the Brit apparently knew how to handle this favorite role perfectly. In Fayettenville, USA, the 22-year-old won the World Championship race easily as a soloist ahead of Lars van der Haar from the Netherlands. He won the duel for silver just ahead of Belgian Eli Iserbyt, who many had identified as one of the favorites based on the recent results. Marcel Meisen - the only German participant - was 18th. The Swiss Kevin Kuhn finished ninth.
Final result of the Elite Men's World Championship:
1. Tom Pidcock (Great Britain) 1:00:36
2. Lars van der Haar (Netherlands) +0:30
3. Eli Iserbyt (Belgium) +0:32
4. Michael Vanthourenhout (Belgium) +0:52
5. Clement Venturini (France) +0:57
Tom Pidcock does it again 🌈
🥇Junior CX World Champion
🥇Under 23 CX World Champion
🥇Elite CX World Champion#Fayetteville2022 pic.twitter.com/vSaGGhT0CB— UCI Cyclocross (@UCI_CX) January 30, 2022
Jan Christen wins the junior title
The Swiss Jan Christen pulled off a surprise at the cyclocross world championships. Not the Dutch favorite - David Haverdings - crowned himself as the new world champion. He fell early and lost a lot of time to the opposition. Behind Jan Christen, Belgium's Aaron Dockx and Britain's Nathan Smith took silver and bronze respectively.
Final result of the Junior World Championships:
1 Jan Christen (Switzerland) 43:11
2. Aaron Dockx (Belgium) st
3. Nathan Smith (Great Britain)st
4. Corentin Lequet (France) +0:20
5. Andrew August (USA) st
WHAT A FINISH!
Jan Christen is your Men Junior World Champion after a 🚀 sprint finish. #Fayetteville2022 pic.twitter.com/ZR7GS2Czap
— UCI Cyclocross (@UCI_CX) January 30, 2022
U23 women: Triple success for the Dutch women
As with the elite women yesterday, there was a Dutch duel in the U23 class today. The gold medal ultimately went to Puck Pieterse, who was able to prevail in the final sprint ahead of compatriot Shirin van Anrooij. Bronze also went to a Dutch woman: Fem van Empel was able to keep the competition at bay.
Final result of the women's U23 World Cup:
1. Puck Pieterse (Netherlands) 46:27
2. Shirin van Anrooij (Netherlands) st
3. Fem van Empel (Netherlands) +0:12
4th Line Burquier (France) +0:39
5. Amandine Fouquenet (France) +1:26.
😱 SO CLOSE 😱
Puck Pieterse outsprints Anrooij for the Women Under 23 World Title 🌈#Fayetteville2022 pic.twitter.com/ATXnx4wCX8
— UCI Cyclocross (@UCI_CX) January 30, 2022