Mathieu Van der Poel illuminated the final day of competition in Tábor (Czechia) with a sixth Men Elite UCI Cyclo-cross World Champion title. Zoe Bäckstedt and Stefano Viezzi are Sunday’s other winners.
Men Elite: MVDP’s glory
Tábor has witnessed another legendary feat from Mathieu Van der Poel. Nine years after he claimed his first Elite UCI World Champion title at the same venue, the Dutch superstar gave another masterclass in Czechia to claim his seventh Elite rainbow jersey, the sixth in cyclo-cross, with another one claimed last year on the road.
When it comes to cyclo-cross only, Van der Poel leaves behind him iconic champions with five Elite titles: Switzerland’s Albert Zweifel, Frenchman André Dufraisse and Italian Renato Longo. Only Belgian Eric De Vlaminck remains ahead of MVDP, with seven Elite UCI World titles. Marianne Vos has won eight in the Women Elite ranks.
“It was the most important races of my cycle-cross season and I’m happy to win,” Van der Poel said. The Oranje icon can turn to his next goals, on the road and in mountain bike, after an almost perfect cyclo-cross campaign this season: 13 victories in 14 races.
Van der Poel left no doubt regarding his ambitions as he powered to the front as soon as the race began. His countryman Joris Nieuwenhuis quickly emerged as the leading chaser, while Belgium’s Michael Vanthourenhout was battling with another Dutchman, Pim Ronhaar, in pursuit of the bronze medal.
After 58’14’’ of effort, Van der Poel triumphed. Nieuwenhuis followed him (+37’’) for a Dutch 1-2. Vanthourenhout (+1’06’’) prevented a fully Oranje podium, making sure Belgium took a medal for the 26th consecutive year.
As they witnessed Van der Poel’s greatness, the crowds in Tábor also bade farewell to another legend, Zdeněk Štybar (CZE), riding for the last time an event that made him a three-time UCI Men Elite Cyclo-cross World Champion (2010, 2011, 2014).
Women Under 23: one more for Bäckstedt’s rainbow collection
Already Women Junior UCI World Champion in cyclo-cross, on the road and on the track, Zoe Bäckstedt took, at 19 years of age, her first Under 23 title with a one-woman show to claim gold in Tábor ahead of Kristýna Zemanová (delighting the Czech crowds with a silver medal at home) and Leonie Bentveld (NED).
“I was a little bit nervous coming into this one,” the Brit wonderkid said as she moved up one step on the podium (having taken silver last year in the same event, in Hoogerheide). “It’s been a really good season and I wanted to top it off with this. I had to tow in mud and it just made it so much fun!”
Bäckstedt enjoyed perfect freedom to choose her lines and display the power that granted her three podium results among the Elites this season in the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup. After one lap in Tábor, she was already on her own, 23’’ ahead of Zemanová, with Bentveld following closely.
The gap to the two chasers went over a minute as they entered the final lap. Zemanová persisted until she took silver (+44’’) ahead of Bentveld (+55’’). Winner in the Women Junior category last year, Isabella Holmgren (CAN) finished strongly to take 4th (+1’08’’) ahead of Luxembourg’s Marie Schreiber (+1’42’’).
Men Junior: Viezzi survives a crazy battle
“I can’t believe it”, Stefano Viezzi acknowledged moments after he became the Men Junior 2024 UCI World Champion. The Italian youngster’s disbelief may come from the magnitude of his success, with the rainbow jersey and the gold medal to cap off his brilliant season. It may also stem from the thrilling scenario that saw him triumph ahead of Keije Solen (NED) and Kryštof Bažant (CZE).
Overall winner of the 2023-2024 Men Junior UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, Viezzi came to Tábor with high ambitions. “Victory was the goal, but to actually make it is invaluable,” he rejoiced. He had shared the status of favourite with France’s Aubin Sparfel, winner in three rounds of the UCI World Cup, European Champion and already with a title of 2024 UCI World Champion after his stellar performance in the team relay on Friday.
Viezzi and Sparfel quickly got away from their rivals. Their multiple accelerations were not enough to separate the pair from each other ahead of an exciting final lap.
Just as Sparfel was about to cross the line for the third and penultimate time, he suffered an ill-timed rear wheel puncture. The podium vanished in front of him.
Moments later, Viezzi damaged his front wheel! But the Italian resisted his rivals to emulate his countryman Davide Malacarne, the only previous Italian winner of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in the Junior ranks, in 2005.