And what a race the Italian Viezzi had among the Juniors!
It's amazing and something I will never forget. Here in the US and at Trek HQ, pedaling alone to the finish line, it's one of the best days on my bike. I made a big step this summer, and I was already so proud to show it last week, but I didn't expect to be here like this, I knew I was in good shape, but riding so dominant is incredible – Thibaut Nys
Nys took the lead on the fifth of seven laps and crossed the finish line victorious, finishing 16 seconds ahead of Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal), denying him a fourth consecutive Waterloo win.
I had some bad luck and I'm a bit disappointed. At the beginning of the running section, my shoe was broken and I tried to fix it, but I lost some time. I had to change my shoes. I had a good feeling but I was a bit off the pace – Eli Iserbyt
Reigning 2022/2023 World Cup overall winner Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon) was not on the start line, forced to withdraw from the event due to an accident in Belgium last week.
WOMEN RACE
Fem world champion Van Empel beats Puck Pieterse and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, winning once again at Waterloo nthe opening round of the 2023-2024 UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Wisconsin.
I didn't know what happened in the race because I didn't accelerate. I just drove at my own pace. This was enough to create a gap. I am very happy to win this race. I'll take a bit of rest after the European Championships, and that's when I can relax a bit, so I won't do the whole season – Fem Van Empel
Van Empel, who lost the lead of the race only briefly on the first lap to Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck), won by 36 seconds ahead of his compatriot.
It was a really good race with all the fans cheering. At the beginning I made some mistakes, my cyclocross technique let me down a bit: I left a gap to Fem and I wasn't able to fill it. Luckily I managed to maintain second place – Puck Pieterse
Former world champion Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Deceuninck), also Dutch, finished in third place with a gap of 1:51 completing an all-Dutch podium.
MEN'S ELITE RANKING
1. | NYS Thibau (BALOISE TREK LIONS) | 56:59 | |
2. | ISERBYT Eli (PAUWELS SAUZEN – BINGOAL) | 57:15 +16 | |
3. | RONHAAR Pim (BALOISE TREK LIONS) | 57:40 +41 | |
4. | NIEUWENHUIS Joris (BALOISE TREK LIONS) | 57:56 +57 | |
5. | VAN DER HAIR Lars (BALOISE TREK LIONS) | 58:08 + 1: 09 | |
6. | VANTHOURENHOUT Michael (PAUWELS SAUZEN – BINGOAL) | 58:35 + 1: 36 | |
7. | KAMP Ryan (PAUWELS SAUZEN – BINGOAL) | 58:44 + 1: 45 | |
8. | VANDEPUTTE Niels (ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK) | 59:02 + 2: 03 | |
9. | MEEUSSEN Witse (CRELAN-CORENDON) | 59:07 + 2: 08 | |
10. | VANDEBOSCH Toon (CRELAN-CORENDON) | 59:22 + 2: 23 |
FEMALE ELITE RANKING
1. | VAN EMPEL Fem (TEAM JUMBO-VISMA) | 48:31 | |
2. | PIETERSE Puck (FENIX-DECEUNINCK) | 49:07 +36 | |
3. | ALVARADO Ceylin del Carmen (ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK)L | 50:22 + 1: 51 | |
4. | ROCHETTE Maghalie | 50:35 + 2: 04 | |
5. | * BACKSTED Jane Zoe (CANYON//SRAM RACING) | 50:53 + 2: 22 | |
6. | BAKKER Manon (CRELAN-CORENDON) | 51:04 + 2: 33 | |
7. | HONSINGER Clara | 51:30 + 2: 59 | |
8. | * HOLMGREN Isabella | 51:46 + 3: 15 | |
9. | * BENTVELD Leonie (PAUWELS SAUZEN – BINGOAL) | 52:20 + 3: 49 | |
10. | HANDS Caroline | 52:44 + 4: 13 |
MEN'S JUNIOR RANKING
1 | VIEZZI Stephen | 43:21 |
2 | THOMPSON David | 0:06 |
3 | SPARFEL Aubin | 0:14 |
4 | SOLEN Keije | 0:18 |
5 | VASSAL Theophile | 0:31 |