The 2021-2022 UCI Cyclocross World Cup continued today in Overijse with the 5th stop in the expanded 16-race series.
The Halloween race was a treat for Overijse, given that it's actually the second UCI Cyclocross World Cup stop in the town in 2021, after a January race last season that featured a thrilling duel between Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert.
The Elite Men took to the course in increasing rain that made an already chewed-up course from the running and crashes in the women's race even slipperier and heavy.
2021 Cyclocross World Cup Overijse, Elite Men, October 31. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
The question was whether World Cup leader Eli Iserbyt could excel in the heavy conditions and hold off last week's Zonhoven winner, Toon Aerts?
Daan Soete and Iserbyt, early leaders. 2021 Cyclocross World Cup Overijse, Elite Men, October 31. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Halfway through the race, it was clear that it would come down to three: Teammates Eli Iserbyt and Michael Vanthourenhout, and Toon Aerts. Earlier, it was Hermans splitting the teammates but after he faded due to crashes and shoe problems, Aerts took his spot.
Iserbyt, Hermans and Vanthourenhout. 2021 Cyclocross World Cup Overijse, Elite Men, October 31. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
The top three entered the final lap, looking to repeat the thrilling three-man show of Zonhoven, only with the tables turned in Pauwel Sauzen-Bingoal's favor, with Vanthourenhout replacing last week's Lars van der Haar.
Vanthourenhout might have been the best male to stay on his bike. 2021 Cyclocross World Cup Overijse, Elite Men, October 31. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
The balance of power proved significant, as Iserbyt attacked a semi-rideable climb, and dabbed. Aerts followed suit. Vanthourenhout cleaned the climb and squeezed past Aerts.
Iserbyt had his gap, and Aerts couldn't get by. Vanthourenhout dropped Aerts and kept Iserbyt within sight, but also kept his teammate in the World Cup leader's jersey.
Eli Iserbyt wins in Overijse ahead of Michael Vanthourenhout and Toon Aerts. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Eli Iserbyt wins in Overijse ahead of Michael Vanthourenhout and Toon Aerts. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
See the video highlights, photo gallery and full results below.
2021 Cyclocross World Cup Overijse Men Video Highlights:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtDXu6rP22/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5EjLadxEJk
2021 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Overijse Elite Women's Photo Gallery:
Vanthourenhout might have been the best male to stay on his bike. 2021 Cyclocross World Cup Overijse, Elite Men, October 31. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
2021 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Overijse Results: Elite Men
| Pos | Bib | Name / UCI Cyclocross Team | NAT | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 12 | ISERBYT Eli PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | BEL | 1:00:28 | - |
| 2. | 15 | VANTHOURENHOUT Michael PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | BEL | 1:00:37 | +0:09 |
| 3. | 13 | AERTS Toon BALOISE TREK LIONS | BEL | 1:00:54 | +0:26 |
| 4. | 17 | SWEECK Laurens PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | BEL | 1:01:14 | +0:46 |
| 5. | 14 | HERMANS Quinten TORMANS CYCLO CROSS TEAM | BEL | 1:01:30 | +1:02 |
| 6. | 2 | VAN DER HAAR Lars BALOISE TREK LIONS | NED | 1:01:39 | +1:11 |
| 7. | 5 | VAN KESSEL Corne TORMANS CYCLO CROSS TEAM | NED | 1:01:51 | +1:23 |
| 8. | 19 | VANDEPUTTE Niels ALPECIN - FENIX | BEL | 1:02:21 | +1:53 |
| 9. | 46 | MASON Cameron TRINITY RACING | GBR | 1:02:26 | +1:58 |
| 10. | 4 | KAMP Ryan PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | NED | 1:02:54 | +2:26 |
| 11. | 7 | NIEUWENHUIS Joris TEAM DSM | NED | 1:03:04 | +2:36 |
| 12. | 22 | VERSTRYNGE Emiel TORMANS CYCLO CROSS TEAM | BEL | 1:03:11 | +2:43 |
| 13. | 16 | BAESTAENS Vincent CX TEAM DESCHACHT-GROUP HENS-CONTAINERS MAES | BEL | 1:03:18 | +2:50 |
| 14. | 24 | DUBAU Joshua MASSI | FRA | 1:03:34 | +3:06 |
| 15. | 20 | VANDEBOSCH Toon PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | BEL | 1:03:42 | +3:14 |
| 16. | 21 | ADAMS Jens | BEL | 1:03:47 | +3:19 |
| 17. | 18 | SOETE Daan CX TEAM DESCHACHT-GROUP HENS-CONTAINERS MAES | BEL | 1:04:06 | +3:38 |
| 18. | 23 | MEEUSEN Tom CX TEAM DESCHACHT-GROUP HENS-CONTAINERS MAES | BEL | 1:04:08 | +3:40 |
| 19. | 8 | HENDRIKX Mees IKO - CRELAN | NED | 1:04:29 | +4:01 |
| 20. | 33 | KUHN Kevin TORMANS CYCLO CROSS TEAM | SUI | 1:04:44 | +4:16 |
| 21. | 39 | ORTS LLORET Felipe BURGOS-BH | ESP | 1:05:04 | +4:36 |
| 22. | 28 | GUILLAUD Valentin TEAM GUEVEL IMMOBILIER LAVAL CYCLISME 53 | FRA | 1:05:17 | +4:49 |
| 23. | 50 | MEISEN Marcel ALPECIN - FENIX | GER | 1:05:20 | +4:52 |
| 24. | 34 | RUEGG Timon CROSS TEAM LEGENDRE | SUI | 1:05:20 | +4:52 |
| 25. | 26 | GRAS Yan TEAM PODIOCOM CC | FRA | 1:05:24 | +4:56 |
| 26. | 31 | HUBY Antoine CROSS TEAM LEGENDRE | FRA | 1:05:52 | +5:24 |
| 27. | 41 | BOROS Michael | CZE | 1:05:58 | +5:30 |
| 28. | 6 | VAN DER POEL David ALPECIN - FENIX | NED | 1:06:04 | +5:36 |
| 29. | 40 | SUAREZ FERNANDEZ Kevin NESTA - MMR CX TEAM | ESP | 1:06:06 | +5:38 |
| 30. | 27 | CASTILLE Noe CROSS TEAM LEGENDRE | FRA | 1:06:21 | +5:53 |
| 31. | 49 | MCGUIRE Rory | GBR | 1:06:32 | +6:04 |
| 32. | 45 | CARRICK-ANDERSON Corran | GBR | 1:06:48 | +6:20 |
| 33. | 35 | MOTTIEZ Gilles CROSS TEAM LEGENDRE | SUI | 1:06:58 | +6:30 |
| 34. | 10 | GODRIE Stan | NED | 1:07:18 | +6:50 |
| 35. | 9 | VERBURG Luke | NED | 1:07:39 | +7:11 |
| 36. | 47 | BLACKMORE Joseph | GBR | 1:07:53 | +7:25 |
| 37. | 42 | MEIN Thomas TORMANS CYCLO CROSS TEAM | GBR | 1:08:01 | +7:33 |
| 38. | 29 | LELANDAIS Remi CROSS TEAM LEGENDRE | FRA | -1 LAP | |
| 39. | 43 | BARNES Daniel TEAM SPECTRA WIGGLE P/B VITUS | GBR | -1 LAP | |
| 40. | 38 | LUETHI Eric SF-RACING | SUI | -1 LAP | |
| 41. | 30 | DUBAU Lucas | FRA | -1 LAP | |
| 42. | 54 | PRIES Cedric LEOPARD PRO CYCLING | LUX | -1 LAP | |
| 43. | 48 | CHILTON Ben TEAM SPECTRA WIGGLE P/B VITUS | GBR | -1 LAP | |
| 44. | 44 | ASKEY Lewis GROUPAMA - FDJ | GBR | -2 LAP | |
| 45. | 11 | VAN LIEROP Danny | NED | -2 LAP | |
| 46. | 37 | JEKER Hannes | SUI | -2 LAP | |
| 47. | 52 | NOLAN Sean EVOPRO RACING | IRL | -3 LAP | |
| 48. | 51 | JETTE Cameron | CAN | -4 LAP | |
| 49. | 36 | CERATO Gabriele | SUI | -4 LAP | |
| 50. | 53 | O REGAN Timothy | IRL | -4 LAP | |
| 3 | RONHAAR Pim BALOISE TREK LIONS | NED | DNF | ||
| 25 | MENUT David CROSS TEAM LEGENDRE | FRA | DNF |
