2021 UCI World Cup Iowa City Report, Results, Highlights: Iserbyt Executes His Plan to Perfection

The men’s final race of the state-side UCI Cyclocross World Cup marathon took place under beautiful clear, warm, sunny skies at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. Without any precipitation in the recent days, the course was running as fast as ever, Mt. Krumpit was getting dusty and loose, and the corners on the switchback descent fast and tacky.

Taking to the course before the women today, the men rushed through the start like a tidal wave with Quinten Hermans leading the fast-moving pack into the holeshot. Once through the rutted off-camber before Pit 1, the strung-out group was riding mostly single file to the base of Mt. Krumpit.

Those who had the ability, strength, speed and fitness to get and stay near the front placed themselves in an ideal position for the ride up the front side of Mt. Krumpit.

(For those not at the front, it feels like a traffic jam of people and you’re forced off your bike to run up the steep hill with bikes and wheels in your face as you try to make passes up the climb. Ask me how I know!)

Based on Eli Iserbyt’s position in the pack heading down the face of Mt. Krumpit, one wouldn’t have guessed today would be his day. Sitting many positions back on the first lap, it seemed that today was an off day for the UCI Cyclocross World Cup leader.

Turns out racers always have a plan, and Iserbyt shared his. “I was always around my FTP and I really saved a lot of energy for the last couple of laps because it was really hot and I knew if you go once over your max heart rate then you will blow up,” he explained. “The last few laps were really, really hard. The plan was to sit in early. I knew it from two years ago, I rode away from Toon in the last couple of laps so I had the same tactic as then.”

The plan was to sit in early. I knew it from two years ago, I rode away from Toon in the last couple of laps so I had the same tactic as then. -Eli Iserbyt

Heading into Lap 2 a group of 8-ish started to form. By the end of the lap, Iserbyt was sitting fourth wheel. As the large group started to splinter, the front group of four formed, containing Quinten Hermans, Iserbyt, Lars van der Haar and Michael Vanthourenhout.

Dangling behind the lead four was Toon Aerts and Jens Adams, as they were looking to connect to the front, but just could not get there. From there it splintered into individual riders chasing the top ten, and then a large group of Europeans and a handful of North Americans, including Gage Hecht, Curtis White, Kerry Werner and Michael van dem Ham, followed, racing towards top-20 positions.

Gage Hecht climbed in to the top 20. 2021 UCI Iowa City Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Halfway through the 10-lap race, it seemed that no one in the front group wanted to do any work, as Van der Haar, who was on the front, looked around and eased his pace. Everyone else seemed content to slow up, allowing Aerts to latch onto the back of the group, while Adams was dangling a few seconds back.

On the long backside of the climb up Mt. Krumpit, Iserbyt and Hermans put in an effort, looking to put a little space between themselves and the other three, perhaps testing their legs for future attacks. Aerts, while certainly happy to catch the group, looked like he was struggling to stay with Van der Haar and Vanthourenhout on the longer backside of the climb.

It was a continuous game of cat and mouse for the leaders of the race, as Hermans and Iserbyt put in small digs, forcing Van der Haar, Vanthourenhout, and Aerts to chase and catch back on.

Hermans led Iserbyt down Mt. Krumpit. 2021 UCI Iowa City Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

I always say to win a bike race, you have to stay on your bike, and when the bike race is a close one, you really need to stay on your bike.

Unfortunately for Hermans, a mistake bunnyhopping the barriers had him off the bike, watching the leaders ride away. Going over the first barrier his rear wheel bumped the barrier, causing him to hit the second barrier and nearly endo. Somehow, he safely walked out of it, because pros crash like pros too. When asked what happened Hermans could only exclaim, “Well, I missed the first one (laughs), F*#%!”

Hermans leaves another U.S. World Cup wondering what could have been without a critical mistake. 2021 UCI Iowa City Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

As he was bent over trying to get his dropped chain back on his bike, Van der Haar, Vanthourenhout, Aerts and Adams passed him.

Lars van der Haar was aggressive at the front. 2021 UCI Iowa City Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

With 2.5 laps to go, Iserbyt had enough cat and mouse and let the fireworks begin. Attacking after Mt. Krumpit, Iserbyt did what he’s done the last two World Cups and focused on the race ahead, instead of what was going on behind him.

Van der Haar chased roughly five seconds behind and Aerts and Vanthourenhout fought for the final podium spot.

On the final lap, Iserbyt stretched his lead and sailed to victory for his second World Cup win this season.

The leaders scale Mt. Krumpit. 2021 UCI Iowa City Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

“It was a very hard race, a very hot race. A lot of riders were in really good shape today and it was really hard to get away from Lars in the end,” he said after his win. “I feel very good [about my position in the World Cup right now]. I’m in good shape and I have to be and get a lot of points early on for the series because in December I always have a little dip. I hope to manage it this year. I feel good for the next couple of races. You have to manage with the jet lag again in Belgium. There will be very fast another double race so resting is very important.”

Just as he did in Waterloo, Eli Iserbyt successfully defended his 2019 Cyclocross World Cup title in Iowa City with climbing supremacy.

Iserbyt takes his second World Cup in 8 days. 2021 UCI Iowa City Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Van Der Haar held onto second place, even if a bit disappointed:

“I’m a little disappointed that I couldn’t close that gap,” said Van der Haar. “I knew his attack was going to come in that lap, so I tried to stay with Eli when he made the gap, then I took a little bit to try to get a little bit of rest myself, and then I really went for it on Mt. Krumpit, and I was almost there, but he did a better downhill, because I was just really tired. I tried again on the second Krumpit, but I couldn’t. I knew on the last lap that it was only possible if he made a mistake, and he didn’t, but I am happy I could redeem myself after Wednesday.”

Van der Haar was both aggressive early and a loyal teammate to Toon Aerts. 2021 UCI Iowa City Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Vanthourenhout dropped Aerts on the final climb up Mt Krumpit to claim the final podium position.

This wraps up the U.S. World Cup coverage as the Europeans will head back across the pond to continue their season before making one more trip back to the U.S. for World Championships in Fayetteville 2022.

Full results below.

See the Elite Women’s report and results from the 2021 Jingle Cross Cyclocross World Cup in Iowa City.

View brief highlights of the race:

Relive here how @IserbytEli snatched his 2️⃣nd victory in America! The European Champion remains the leader in the overall ranking! 👏 #CXWorldCup pic.twitter.com/P1O5r5WESf

— UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup (@UCIcyclocrossWC) October 17, 2021

Hear Iserbyt talk about his win, getting aero and avoiding his dreaded December Dip in our interview:

Hear Lars discuss his chase of Iserbyt and season’s plans:

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

2021 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Iowa City Results: Elite Men

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