UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup: Splendid debut for Milton Keynes

For the first time ever, the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup was contested outside continental Europe. It’s impossible to predict how a new World Cup round will turn out but the addition of Milton Keynes surely proved to be successful. Pleasant weather offered the many spectators a perfect setting for an afternoon of cyclo-cross racing in Campbell Park. Then again, recent rain showers turned the spacious and rolling course into a slippery mud challenge for the riders. The two races held on Saturday afternoon proved to be thrilling until the last second. European and Belgian champion Sanne Cant (Belgium) won the race in the Women’s category in a close sprint. Her compatriot Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team) did the same in the Elite Men category. Both riders extend their lead in the World Cup standings after three rounds.

The race in the Women’s category was dominated by Cant and Pan-American champion Katherine Compton (USA). Cant had a great start and left her rivals behind shortly after the opening lap. Ellen Van Loy (Young Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team) and British champion Helen Wyman (Kona Factory Team) were unable to keep up with Cant. Compton needed more time to find her rhythm on the challenging course but halfway the second lap, the 38 year-old rider moved up through the field into second place. By the end of that second lap, she closed the gap with Cant on her own.

Home riders Wyman and Nikki Harris (Young Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team) were in the first chase group but didn’t have the weapons to fight for the win. Harris managed to shake off Van Loy and Wyman but failed to get any closer on leaders Compton and Cant. The duo exchanged accelerations but without success. Together they hit the final lap and only at the final obstacles Compton seemed to surge away from Cant.

When arriving on the asphalt near the finish line, Cant regained speed and blasted over Compton just before the finish line. Half a minute later Harris was delighted with her third place, getting on the podium on home soil. Pre-race World Cup leader Sophie de Boer (Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental Team) struggled with the pains of a midweek crash and finished sixteenth.

Cant takes over the World Cup leader’s jersey which she will be wearing on home soil on December 21 in Namur. Compton now holds second place at 16 points from Cant. The third place from Harris moves her from sixth to third place overall. De Boer tumbles to fifth in the World Cup standings.

Also in the Elite Men category a sprint had to decide the winner of the day. Pauwels grabbed his first World Cup win of the season when he easily out-sprinted teammate Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Napoleon Games Cycling Team). The duo dropped French champion Francis Mourey (FDJ.fr) at the beginning of the final lap. Mourey managed to hold off the return of Dutch champion Lars van der Haar (Giant-Shimano Development Team) and finish on the podium. Van der Haar rode near the front of the race all race long but paid for those efforts in the penultimate lap. Mourey powered to the front and his acceleration was fatal for Van der Haar and German champion Philipp Walsleben (BCKP-Powerplus).

Earlier in the race, the slippery off-camber section at the beginning of each lap often took out riders in their quest for glory. Belgian champion Sven Nys lost a lot of time in the opening lap. A crash from Walsleben cost Corné van Kessel (Telenet-Fidea) his place in the front group halfway the race. Van Kessel went on to finish sixth, moving into third place in the World Cup standings. The 35 points bonus from Pauwels over Vantornout is a comfortable lead halfway the World Cup.

The fourth round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup will be held at the citadel of Namur, Belgium on December 21. Namur will also feature races in the youth categories.