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 his next world title at the Cyclocross World Championships in Tabor. The Dutchman crowned himself the best cyclocross rider in the world for the sixth time, putting him just one title behind Belgian Erik De Vlaeminck. With Wout van Aert and Thomas Pidcock absent, Dutchman Joris Nieuwenhuis and Belgian Michael Vanthourenhout secured the silver and bronze medals, respectively. The U23 world champion was Dutchman Tibor del Grosso, while Italian Stefano Viezzi triumphed in the junior category.
Fem van Empel also makes it clear
The women's World Championship race wasn't particularly exciting either. Fem van Empel lived up to her favorite status, crossing the finish line with a 1:20 minute lead over her compatriot Lucinda Brand. Bronze went to Puck Pieterse ahead of Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado. This meant the Dutch women occupied the top four spots at the World Championships. In the U23 category, Great Britain's Zoe Backstedt won , and in the Junior category, France's Célia Gery took the victory.
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