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UCI Worldcup – Valkenburg 2014

Posted By: Peter Scholz 22. October 2014

Just like the years before Valkenburg aan der Geul was the opening race of the UCI cyclocross worldcup series. Bright sunshine and warm temperatures made the spectators think of a summer day instead of a typical weather for cyclocross. Located below the casino on top  of the famous Cauberg, the race track proved once more that it was more than worthy to host a worldcup race.

The race day started with the race of the mens juniors. And once again the man of the race was the belgian champion Eli Iserbyt. Right from the Start he took the lead and immediately produced a mentionable gap between him and the rest of the peloton. Soon it was evitable, that the remaining cyclist were only competing for the title “best of the rest”. At the end Max Gulickx finished second and the swiss champion Johan Jacob secured his third place in front of french rider Thomas Bonnet.

Uphill wheelie of Johan Jacob

The race of the U23 should be the first clash of all U23 drivers with Mathieu van der Poel riding in this category. Just after he managed to impressive results in Gieten and Ronse the youn dutch talent was the main favorite for this race. Everything seemed to work out fine, when the dutch champion was leading the race in the middle of the first lap. But things are never as easy as it seems. European champion Michael Vanthourenhout who won the race last year, was not willing to give up without fighting. Both were running head to head, when entering the second lap. When Mathieu van der Poel had to face some mechanical problems, the young belgian managed to take the lead and continued a race on his own. Van der Poel might have been a victim of his own nerviosity had to pay tribute to the high speed in the beginning and finished seventh at the end. Fabien Doubet tried to chase the leader, but did not manage to close the gap to Michael Vanthourenhout. Reigning world champion took a bad start and hat to fight hard to get a chance for a position on the podium. It took until the last round to pass the french driver and finish second.

Hop weg met de fiets

The second half of the day was opened with the womens race. Meanwhile tempertures exceed 20 degrees celsius and the jury allowed feeding in the material zone. Before the womens race was to start, there was a minute’s silence in commemoration of Annefleur Kalvenhaar who died after a crash during the XCE qualiciations race in Montafleur earlier this year.

Pavla Havlikova made a real good start and led the peloton into the field. But she was not able to gain a sufficient advance. So she was caught quicky. The race unfolded with a new leading group containing the reigning european champion Helen Wyman, the belgian champion Sanne Cant, two riders from Telenet-Fidea Ellen van Loy and Nikki Harris. The group was completed by young dutch rider Sophie de Boer who once again performed excellently. So mostly all favorites showed up in the front, but one rider was missing. Katie Compton who arrived from the US short time ago was missing. The reigning american champion, who won the world cup last year was stuck in the peloton and had to face some technical problems. At the end of the first lap, she passed the finish line having roundabout half a minute lag towards the head of the race. But there was no reason for panic for the american. Steadily she shortened the gap and just after two thirds of the race distance she managed to join the leading group. Without any hesitation she moved on an with just two laps to go, she took the lead from Helen Wyman. Beeing in the lead there was no chance to stop Katie Compton. Without any problems she finished first in front of Helen Wyman. Just like the last couple of races young Sophie de Boer performed impressingly well and managed to finish on the last remaining place on the podium.

Sophie de Boer and Nikki Harris struggle in the climb

The last race of the day had one big favorite. Last years winner of the worldcup series Lars van der Haar was expected to show a good race in front of his own people. Lucy Garner female road racer of Team Giant-Shimano was to watch as her boy friend started fastest as usual and managed to enter the field in front of the race. Since everybody tries to be in front, the race started a bit nervously. For Jonathan Page the race was nearly over before it really had begun. His rear mech hanger was torn off the frame and he had to take a short run to the pits with his rear wheel in one hand and the frame in the other. Meanwhile Lars van der Haar fired off his first attack and immediatly opened a gap to the rest of the peloton. He reduced his speed for short so that Kevin Pauwels and Tom Meeusen managed to close in. But this should not last for long, the dutch champion attacked once more. This time Kevin Pauwels managed to keep his wheel and both drove away from Meeusen.  As Pauwels got caught by a lane groove an touched ground, Lars van der Haar was on his own again. This should not be changed to the finish line.

Nevertheless the race was still thrilling, since a real thrilling competition for the remaining places on the podium was about to start. After his crash Kevin Pauwels was caught again by Tom Meeusen. Shortly behind those both rode Klaas Vantornout and Philipp Walsleben. Soon these two drivers managed to close the gap to the two pusuers and from now on a group of four chased van der Haar. Only a few seconds behind the quarted two drivers of Telenet-Fidea, Thijs van Amerongen and Corne van Kessel rode in within an eyeshot but were not able to close the gap for a long time. Only when the quartlett started some tactical games for the last lap,  they managed to join the group. While Kevin Pauwels manged to drive away from the rest of the pack, a hard fight for the last place on the podium was to start. Right at the end a happy Corne van Kessel had the better end on his side and managed to finish on third place.

Lars van der Haar impressive

Exhausted

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