2021 Jingle Cross Day 2 Report and Results: A Thrilling Vandeputte and Werner Duel

The chance to ride the World Cup course was an incentive to race Saturday’s UCI C2 Elite Men’s race for a handful of Europeans as well as many domestic racers chasing UCI points.

Mount Krumpit was rocking again on a warm, sunny, albeit windy afternoon in Iowa City. Thankfully racers had a tailwind down the long dusty stretch between the starting grid and finish line, which was a good thing, as the six-minute laps meant they would roll down that road ten times. That also meant the same number of rides up Mount Krumpit, the steep dirt ascent into the crowds, music and beer garden.

On the opening lap, Niels Vandeputte started to distance himself from the rest of the 45-rider field as they ascended the rutted climb. Kerry Werner was the first and only one to bridge up to his wheel.

Niels Vandeputte attacked the first climb, and Werner was the only one to connect. 2021 Jingle Cross Day 2 Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Once the pair had a gap, they traded leads as they continued to ride away from the chasing riders.

Werner and Vandeputte took turns at the front. 2021 Jingle Cross Day 2 Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Gosse ven der Meer was closest to the pair, but eventually would fall behind by two minutes. Sam Noel and Brian Matter also gave chase, but both Vandeputte and Werner would prove too fast for anyone to close the gap.

Niels Vandeputte put in countless attacks to drop Kerry Werner. His last lap surge before Mt. Krumpit stuck. 2021 Jingle Cross Day 2 Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

With a couple of laps to go, the front duo slowed, neither wanting to tow the other around the Johnson County Fairgrounds.

Gosse van der Meer was all alone in third. 2021 Jingle Cross Day 2 Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

With one lap to go, they rolled comfortably through the finish line and across the dry, though typically muddy, Holy Hell Hole. Once past that, and Pit 1, Vandeputte exploded from behind Werner, flying over the first flyover, with Werner chasing hard. Vandeputte took his momentum up Mt. Krumpit, with the encouragement of the screaming crowds, quickly had several bike lengths lead on the American.

Werner and Vandeputte had a thrilling duel. 2021 Jingle Cross Day 2 Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

With three-quarters of the course to complete, Vanderputte kept up the pressure, Werner fading further back as the lap wore on. By the finish line straight-away, he had enough time to offer hi-fives to the crowd and still finish 14 seconds ahead of Werner.

Niels Vandeputte put in countless attacks to drop Kerry Werner. His last lap surge before Mt. Krumpit stuck. 2021 Jingle Cross Day 2 Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Werner had no threat from the rear and took the time to hi-five the excited crowd.

Van der Meer rolled across the line nearly two minutes later, and from then on, riders from the disintegrated field made their way to the finish at 15-30 second increments.

Niels Vandeputte had time to celebrate after his explosive last-lap attack. 2021 Jingle Cross Day 2 Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

All that awaits the UCI World Cup Tour of America is the final race in Iowa City on Sunday, before heading to begin its European slate of races. Some of the top racers should be well-rested after skipping Friday and Saturday’s races. Stay tuned for full coverage.

Full results below.

Our 2021 UCI Cyclocross World Cup coverage is brought to you by Bike Rags Apparel with additional support from BikeIowa.

2021 Jingle Cross Day 2 Results: UCI C2 Elite Men

Check out the full results for all the 2021 Jingle Cross UCI races here.