World Cup cyclocross racing kickstarted in Waterloo, Wisconsin, on Sunday with a flash.
Fast, dusty racing in the backyard of Trek’s global headquarters saw opening-race victories for Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal teammates Eli Iserbyt and Fem van Empel as crowds turned out en masse for UCI-sanctioned racing.
Also read: ‘Cross is here: All you need to know about 2022-23 World Cup
SnowyMountain Photography was there to capture all the action:
Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Deceuninck) took the holeshot in the opening seconds of the women’s race.
The ground was so dry that the fencing and grass all along the course were coated with a fine powder that would turn back into a cloud of dust if disturbed. This made for slippery corners and tricky climbs.
Lars van der Haar (Baloise Trek Lions) lead the men’s field over the flyover on the first lap of the men’s race.
American champion Clara Honsinger (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) makes her way through The Secret Bar. Honsinger spent most of the race 20-30 seconds behind the lead group and finished seventh overall.
Young fans (don’t let the mustaches fool you) encourage Toon Vandebosch to get “send-y” as he tries to close the gap to number nine Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Fristads).
Reigning European champion, Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) powered her way up Trek Factory Hill which features a steep off camber and great course side viewing.
With Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Fristads) and Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) firmly in second and first respectively, the race for the final step of the podium between Lars van der Haar (Baloise Trek Lions), Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal), and Thibau Nys (Baloise Trek Lions) became the race to watch in the final laps.
Fem van Empel (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) topped an all-dutch podium that included Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions).
Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) made it two in a row with his Waterloo title defense.
Curtis White (Steve Tilford Foundation) got a little emotional after the finish of a very hard, very fast race. He finished a respectable 15th on the day.
Three Dutch women take to the podium.
Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels-Sauzen-Bingoal) in the commerative University of Wisconsin Badger’s hockey sweater given to first place finishers in Waterloo.