The new-look UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup crowns its champions

Eli Iserbyt, Lucinda Brand, Mees Hendrikx, Puck Pieterse, David Haverdings and Leonie Bentveld are the overall winners after 15 rounds from October to January.

The 2021-2022 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup is a wrap, after the final races held in Hoogerheide (Netherlands) on Sunday 23 January, and its main protagonists have just a very small window to celebrate their accomplishments before heading to the USA, for the 2022 Walmart UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Fayetteville.

“We have witnessed exciting UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup racing this season”, UCI Sports Director Peter Van den Abeele rejoices. “From the first three rounds in the USA last October, to the final event in one of the discipline’s traditional hotbeds, Hoogerheide, the back-to-back racing has kept us on the edge of our seats for ten weeks. With nearly double the number of rounds compared to recent years, this new-look format is part of the UCI’s reform of cyclo-cross, achieved in collaboration with our partner, Flanders Classics. It has certainly lived up to our expectations, especially the women’s racing.”

“Organisers responded positively, and we have had good feedback from the athletes, who have delighted us all season with their performances”, Peter Van den Abeele added before insisting on the developments the new UCI World Cup format will lead to: “The revenues from this series will enable us to increase our investment to assist National Federations field teams of young riders. This in turn will further strengthen the development of cyclo-cross, which is one of the aims of our reform of the discipline. I truly believe we have found a UCI World Cup format worthy of the cyclo-cross discipline and we will continue our work to ensure its continued success and worldwide popularity amongst the athletes and fans.”

Flanders Classics CEO Tomas Van den Spiegel echoes these sentiments: "After 15 rounds with numerous highlights and successful newcomers, we look back on the past UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup with pride… Now the viewers know: on Sunday there is UCI World Cup. That is a fixed arrangement. We want to build on that, with a view to further professionalisation and internationalisation”

Men Elite: Iserbyt's delights

And in the end, it was Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen–Bingoal) who won. In Hoogerheide, and overall. The 24-year-old Belgian capped off his spectacular UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup campaign with a triumph in the final round, although his previous performances had already established him as the overall winner in the Men Elite standings.

Three months ago, Iserbyt immediately powered to the lead, with two victories and a 2nd place in the opening rounds held in the USA. He stayed on top until the end with more victories along the way: in Belgium (Overijse and Koksijde), in France (Besançon and Flamanville)… and Hoogerheide.

“We saw who are the best riders this weekend,” said Iserbyt after taking the win from Lars van der Haar. And the two-time Under-23 UCI World Champion had already made things clear regarding chasing another rainbow, this time in the Elite category: “I’m looking forward to the UCI World Championships in Fayetteville.”

Women Elite: Brand rules the (Dutch) world

After a solid start to the season, Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) upped the ante as the 2021-2022 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup hit crunch time, claiming three victories in a row in Namur (Belgium), Dendermonde (Belgium) and Hulst (the Netherlands), following earlier successes in Fayetteville, Tábor (Czech Republic) and Besançon.

The reigning UCI Cyclo-cross World Champion backed up these wins with more attacks in the final round, on home soil, but she took 2nd on the day, behind Marianne Vos (who also won two of the American rounds - in Waterloo and Iowa City - and Rucphen in the Netherlands). Still, it was more than enough to confirm her overall victory, having led since round 5.

Dutch riders took more victories with Denise Betsema in Zonhoven (Belgium), Annemarie Worst in Koksijde and the rising talent Fem Van Empel in Val di Sole (Italy) and Flamanville. Amongst the Dutch stars, there was a young Hungarian talent who also rose to victory: the versatile Kata Blanka Vas, winner of the Druivencross in Overijse.

Under 23: Hendrikx proves he’s on top, Pieterse punches above her weight

Racing among the Elite riders, the Under 23 women seized every opportunity to score points for their own standings, gain experience and warn their elders: a new generation is gearing up to take over! Narrowly beaten by Brand in the sprint for 2nd in Hoogerheide, Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Fenix) was the most consistent with six podium finishes that made her the winner of the Under 23 standings, and 3rd among the Elite. Fem van Empel followed very closely with her two victories, and their Dutch compatriot Shirin van Anrooij rounding out a spectacular podium.

Mees Hendrikx (Iko-Crelan) took the early lead in the men’s standings with his victory in the first Men Under 23 event, in Tábor. His Dutch compatriot Pim Ronhaar, Great Britain’s Cameron Mason and Belgium’s Emiel Verstrynge won the other races, but Hendrikx always took a step onto the podium to eventually ensure victory.

The 21-year-old Dutch rider also impressed among the Elite riders, finishing 6th in Hoogerheide after making it to the podium of the Dutch National Championships.

Junior: Haverdings was untouchable, Bentveld took a late win from Backstedt

After three rounds for the Junior riders, two solid leaders had emerged in the Men and Women ranks: the Netherlands’ David Haverdings (ZZPR.nl-Orange Babies Cycling Team), racking up victories in his first international outings, and Great Britain’s Zoe Backstedt (Tormans Cyclo Cross Team), thriving in the mud after claiming a rainbow jersey last autumn in the UCI Road World Championships.

Haverdings made it four victories out of four rounds in Flamanville, asserting his position on top of the overall standings ahead of Louka Lesueur. “I definitely didn’t imagine I would win so many races,” Haverdings said before turning his eyes to Fayetteville.

Backstedt couldn’t keep her streak going, as a positive test for Covid-19 prevented her from racing in France. Second in the first three rounds, Leonie Bentveld (Pauwels Sauzen–Bingoal) took her chance to edge Backstedt in the overall standings (130 points to 120), with her Dutch compatriot Lauren Molengraaf in third.

“I really only had one thing to do, and I couldn’t settle for anything less than victory,” Bentveld said. She also saluted her rival Backstedt on social media.

These two, and many more champions, are now awaited in the USA to keep the battles going in the 2022 Walmart UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships (29-30 January).