The 2024-25 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup came to an exhilarating end at the weekend with consecutive rounds in Maasmechelen (Belgium) and Hoogerheide (the Netherlands). The overall winners were crowned after 12 rounds spanning two months. We get their reactions, less than a week out from the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships taking place in Liévin (France) from Friday 31January to Sunday 2 February…
Vanthourenhout: “I hope to have the best legs next week”
“I’m a happy kid,” Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) said with a grin as he secured his first Men Elite UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup overall victory, at 31 years old, ten years after he had ruled the Men Under 23 standings. “It’s my first GC (general classification) win in my career so it’s very beautiful. It’s one of the highest possible GCs you can win so I’m very happy.
“It’s always a pleasure to race with a jersey different to the others,” the Belgian reflected after he led the standings from his victory in Dublin (round 2) all the way to Hoogerheide, where he finished second behind Mathieu Van der Poel to seal his overall triumph ahead of Toon Aerts (Deschacht-Hens-FSP).
“I went to follow [Van der Poel] but it wasn’t possible today so I rode the whole race in second position. It was very hard but I’m very happy with the race and the shape is getting better so I hope to have the best legs next week.”
Brand: “I’m much more competitive on all types of terrain”
“It’s a great way to finish the UCI World Cup,” Lucinda Brand (Baloise Glowi Lions) celebrated as she won the final event of the season. With it the Dutch star added even more emphasis to the overall triumph she had already secured with her consistent performances at the highest level, which earned her a third Women Elite UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup overall victory.
“I think it’s crazy,” she says about the fact she has stood on the podium of every round of the season - three wins, six second places and two third places - to dominate the standings with a significant margin (350 points vs 276) over the reigning UCI World Champion Fem van Empel (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), who secured four victories this campaign.
“Of course, I had seasons where I won a lot more, but the level definitely changed so, from that perspective, I think it’s definitely one of the best seasons I did,” Brand describes. “I feel like I’m much more competitive on all types of terrain.”
Del Grosso: “I’ve definitely made a step again”
“It couldn’t be better,” observed Tibor Del Grosso (Alpecin-Deceuninck) after ruling the Men Under 23 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup standings for the second successive year, with an impeccable record: five races, five victories, and a solid margin (160 points vs 130) on his Belgian rival and friend Jente Michels. “It’s nice to have that in the bag and I’m looking forward to the last opportunities of the season.
“I had some new experiences and I feel like I’ve definitely made a step again,” the 21-year-old says as he prepares to defend his Men Under 23 rainbow jersey in the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships. After that he’ll move up to the Elite action, with some notable performances among the big boys already delivered this season, including a top-5 in the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup of Namur (Belgium) and the Dutch National Champion title.
Carrier: “I never stressed about results”
“I’ve learned many things this year but the main thing is that having fun and not putting too much pressure on me is when results come my way,” Canada’s Rafaëlle Carrier reflected as she clinched the overall victory in the Women Junior UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in her second year in this category. “I never stressed about results and that’s how it works.
“Last year, I was among the best first-year Juniors, so I knew I could do something, but I didn’t expect to podium almost every race,” says the young Canadian, who recorded two wins, a 2nd place and two 3rd places from six races. She got the better of France’s Lise Revol (135 points vs 123) and still feels fresh after battling for two months across Europe: “I’ve tried not to overdo things, to avoid fatigue, so that I can be at my best level for the UCI Worlds.”
Bruyère Joumard: “I really didn’t think I could be at that level”
“For a first year, this is great,” celebrated Soren Bruyère Joumard as he powered to the overall triumph in the Men Junior class at the first time of asking, with two victories and a final tally of 132 points (vs 126 for Italy’s Mattia Agostinacchio). “I’m still learning, but this is more than a successful year and I hope it will keep going like that with a nice place at the UCI Worlds.
“I’m quite surprised, I have to say, because I really didn’t think I could be at that level”, says the young Frenchman, who just turned 17. “I thought I could battle for the top-10, but to be battling for the win, and to actually win, it’s amazing. This season has brought me lots of learnings, experience and maturity.”