Dan Seaton gallery: 2012 Koksijde World Cup

Helen Wyman (Kona) led the race early. Photo: Dan Seaton

Sanne Van Paassen (Rabobank) and Nikki Harris (Telenet-Fidea) lead the chase on the first lap. Photo: Dan Seaton

World Cup leader Katie Compton (Trek Cyclocross Collective) descends one of the dunes. Photo: Dan Seaton

Helen Wyman (Kona) runs a technical descent. Photo: Dan Seaton

Sanne Cant’s (BKCP-Enertherm) slow start hampered her bid to improve on her last result in Koksijde. Photo: Dan Seaton

Amy Dombroski (Telenet-Fidea) overcame a terrible start to finish just outside the top 10. Photo: Dan Seaton

Katie Compton (Trek Cyclocross Collective) had time to avoid risks by carefully surveying this tricky descent before taking the plunge. Photo: Dan Seaton

Nikki Harris (Telenet-Fidea) rode a career race for second place overall. Photo: Dan Seaton

Van Paassen, Wyman and Cant chase the two leaders. Photo: Dan Seaton

Amy Dombroski (Telenet-Fidea) and teammate Pavla Havlikova on a sandy climb. Photo: Dan Seaton

Katie Compton (Trek Cyclocross Collective) further secured her World Cup lead with today’s massive win. Photo: Dan Seaton

Belgian champion Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet) was just a number in the crowd at the beginning of the race. Photo: Dan Seaton

Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Revor) took the early lead. Photo: Dan Seaton

A young fan waves the Flemish flag for the leaders. Photo: Dan Seaton

Kevin Pauwels’ (Sunweb-Revor) mid-season decline continued with a 12th place. Photo: Dan Seaton

Tom Meeusen (Telenet-Fidea) follows Thijs Van Amerongen (AA Drink-Leontien.nl) on the Albert Dune. Photo: Dan Seaton

Bart Wellens (Telenet-Fidea) made a valiant attempt to overcome a terrible start, but finished 18th. Photo: Dan Seaton

Photographers shoot Francis Mourey (FDJ-Big Mat) as he leads the race into the sand. Photo: Dan Seaton

Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet) passes in front of a group of supporters as he crosses the dunes. Photo: Dan Seaton

Niels Albert (BKCP-PowerPlus) used his sand-riding skills to get a lead, but couldn’t hold it in the end. Photo: Dan Seaton

Racers run through the rain and sand with their bikes. Photo: Dan Seaton

Fans pop umbrellas to take shelter from the miserable weather as the race approaches. Photo: Dan Seaton

Mustachioed New Zealander Alexander Revell won a battle with countryman Angus Edmond. Photo: Dan Seaton

Niels Albert (BKCP-PowerPlus) leads near the midpoint of the race. Photo: Dan Seaton

Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet) plunges down a sandy hill on his way to a big World Cup win. Photo: Dan Seaton

Francis Mourey (FDJ-Big Mat) chases Niels Albert through the through the mud near the finish line. Photo: Dan Seaton

A muddy Radomir Simunek (BKCP-Powerplus) dons his jacket after the race. Photo: Dan Seaton

Britain’s Ian Field (Hargroves Cycles) recovers after finishing 29th. Photo: Dan Seaton