Gallery: The GOAT and the upstart shine at Cyclocross Worlds
Gallery: The GOAT and the upstart shine at Cyclocross Worlds
You’d think that after winning literally hundreds of bike races, the joy of victory would be somewhat muted. You’d think that, after all that success, winning would be more of an expectation than something to be celebrated with gusto. Not if you’re Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma).
This past Saturday, the sport’s greatest-ever rode to her eighth(!) cyclocross world title in Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA. When she crossed the line, her celebration wasn’t one of someone who’d been there so many times before. It was the celebration of a rider who still cherishes what it means to be at the top of her game; at the top of the sport.
A day later, Tom Pidcock was adding another big win to his increasingly impressive palmares. Despite being throughly outnumbered by his Belgian rivals, the 22-year-old Briton dominated. After all, it doesn’t matter if you have the biggest team in the race if you don’t have the strongest rider …
Pidcock attacked early and rode the rest of the race on his own, claiming his first elite CX world title, to go with U23 and junior world titles in the same discipline … and gold in last year’s Olympic cross country MTB race.
Here’s how the elite women’s and men’s races unfolded over the weekend, as told by our photographers at the event.
Two former world champs catch up at the start. Ceylin Alvarado (left) won it in 2020 while Sanne Cant won each of the three editions before that. 
The stairs were a defining feature of the Fayetteville course. 
By the end of the first lap, the Dutch trio of Lucinda Brand, Alvarado, and Vos had built a lead. 
Soon it was just Brand and Vos out front. 
Rising star Kata Blanka Vas didn’t have her best day, finishing 17th. 
Brand spent much of the time on the front as Vos lay in wait just behind. 
Ultimately it came down to a two-up sprint … 
… with Vos taking her eighth world title thanks to her stronger kick. 
Even after all of her success, winning still means so much to the GOAT. 
Silvia Persico rounded out the podium with an impressive third place – the only non-Dutch rider in the top six. 
The elite men’s race got underway with a predictably strong Belgian contingent. 
A decent group stayed together for the first three laps. 
Pidcock was at the front and looking dangerous. 
A mistake from Eli Iserbyt on lap 4 gave Pidcock a window … 
… which he quickly turned into a lead. 
By the end of lap 6 of nine, Pidcock’s lead was out to over 35 seconds. 
Pidcock looked in control throughout. 
Lars van der Haar took control of the chase in the closing stages … 
… and was able to drop all but Iserbyt. 
Ahead, Pidcock continued doing his thing … 
… and opened more of a lead in the closing laps. 
In the end, the 22-year-old Briton had enough time for a little celebration. 
. 
The winning bike. 
Van der Haar took home a silver medal (but not the flowers he received). 
Iserbyt held on for third. 
At just 22, Pidcock is now an Olympic MTB champion and elite cyclocross world champion. What’s next?