The last time the world’s best Elite Men raced cyclocross in Fayetteville, Tom Pidock rode away from the field, and Lars van der Haar (Baloise Trek Lions) took silver in a sprint at the 2022 UCI Cyclocross World Championships.
With the top two finishers from that race missing from the 2022 Fayetteville OzCross Cyclocross World Cup start list, racers were licking their chops at the chance to claim Fayetteville glory.
Iserbyt was the aggressor at the 2022 Fayetteville Oz Cross World Cup © D. Mable. / Cyclocross Magazine
Could Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal) keep his series leader’s jersey? Could Laurens Sweeck (Crelan – Fristads) take a first World Cup for his new Crelan Fristads team? Could U23 Thibau Nys (Baloise Trek Lions) bunnyhop the Elite men to a podium finish?
Iserbyt is feeling good! 💪 He attacks twice on the uphill section, but Sweeck and Vanthourenhout still in his wheel! 2️⃣ laps to go! #CXWorldCup pic.twitter.com/uN2LuP1Gwn
— UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup (@UCIcyclocrossWC) October 16, 2022
While it took a while for the cream to rise to the top of the tough, steep, Fayetteville climb and run-up, fans were treated to an exciting last-lap battle that featured teammates Iserbyt, winner of the 2022 UCI Cyclocross Waterloo World Cup, and Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal), along with former teammate Sweeck.
Behind, 2021 U.S. Cyclocross National Champ Eric Brunner, having his best-ever World Cup, was dangling and looked to make it four fighting for the win with just a lap to go, until Iserbyt attacked down the finishing straight.
Iserbyt attacked again on the final climb, shedding his teammate Vanthourenhout, and then it was a duel to the finish with Sweeck.
Sweeck led the final turns and burst down the finishing pavement, with Iserbyt in his slipstream.
It was a close one, but Eli Iserbyt wins again in America! 🇺🇸🏆 He beats Laurens Sweeck in a really exciting sprint. 😍 Vanthourenhout joins the duo on the podium 🥉. #CXWorldCup pic.twitter.com/B5lOnsHAqi
— UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup (@UCIcyclocrossWC) October 16, 2022
Iserbyt’s impressive sprint left Sweeck banging his bars, while Vanthourenhout finished one better than his spot in Waterloo, landing on the podium to make it a Belgian sweep.
Brunner took an impressive fourth place, the best finish by an American male, ever. “Thanks everyone for believing—so happy with fourth place in the Fayetteville World Cup!” said Brunner after the race.
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See the full results below.
2022 UCI Fayetteville Cyclocross World Cup Results: Elite Men
| Pl | Bib | Name / UCI Cyclocross Team | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 4 | ISERBYT Eli PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | 1:03:12 | - |
| 2. | 9 | SWEECK Laurens CRELAN - FRISTADS | 1:03:12 | +0:00 |
| 3. | 12 | VANTHOURENHOUT Michael PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | 1:03:31 | +0:19 |
| 4. | 15 | BRUNNER Eric UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | 1:03:38 | +0:26 |
| 5. | 7 | NYS Thibau BALOISE TREK LIONS | 1:03:51 | +0:39 |
| 6. | 8 | SOETE Daan DESCHACHT-HENS-MAES | 1:03:52 | +0:40 |
| 7. | 11 | VANDEPUTTE Niels ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK | 1:03:52 | +0:40 |
| 8. | 13 | WYSEURE Joran CRELAN - FRISTADS | 1:03:53 | +0:41 |
| 9. | 10 | VANDEBOSCH Toon ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK | 1:03:55 | +0:43 |
| 10. | 43 | BOROŠ Michael ELKOV - KASPER | 1:04:23 | +1:11 |
| 11. | 41 | RÜEGG Timon CROSS TEAM LEGENDRE | 1:04:35 | +1:23 |
| 12. | 2 | AERTS Thijs BALOISE TREK LIONS | 1:05:05 | +1:53 |
| 13. | 3 | BAESTAENS Vincent BELGIUM | 1:05:05 | +1:53 |
| 14. | 27 | WHITE Curtis UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | 1:05:05 | +1:53 |
| 15. | 37 | LELANDAIS Rémi CROSS TEAM LEGENDRE | 1:05:32 | +2:20 |
| 16. | 5 | LOOCKX Lander DESCHACHT-HENS-MAES | 1:05:32 | +2:20 |
| 17. | 6 | MEEUSEN Tom DESCHACHT-HENS-MAES | 1:05:37 | +2:25 |
| 18. | 38 | MENUT David AS BIKE RACING | 1:05:39 | +2:27 |
| 19. | 40 | RONHAAR Pim BALOISE TREK LIONS | 1:05:48 | +2:36 |
| 20. | 39 | HAVERDINGS David BALOISE TREK LIONS | 1:05:53 | +2:41 |
| 21. | 19 | HAIDET Lance L39ION OF LOS ANGELES | 1:05:56 | +2:44 |
| 22. | 34 | VAN DEN HAM Michael CANADA | 1:06:14 | +3:02 |
| 23. | 16 | DILLMAN Andrew UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | 1:06:54 | +3:42 |
| 24. | 44 | HERRMANN Lukas HEIZOMAT RADTEAM P/B KLOSTER KITCHEN | 1:06:56 | +3:44 |
| 25. | 23 | SHELTON Marcis UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | 1:06:56 | +3:44 |
| 26. | 18 | FUNSTON Scott UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | 1:06:57 | +3:45 |
| 27. | 21 | MOCK Daxton CXHAIRS DEVO TREK BIKES | 1:06:59 | +3:47 |
| 28. | 20 | MCNEILL Dillon CXHAIRS DEVO TREK BIKES | 1:07:02 | +3:50 |
| 29. | 29 | RAMSAY Noah CANADA | 1:07:02 | +3:50 |
| 30. | 30 | SANDERSON Brody CANADA | 1:07:16 | +4:04 |
| 31. | 25 | SWARTZ Caleb UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | 1:07:49 | +4:37 |
| 32. | 22 | NOEL Sam UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | 1:07:57 | +4:45 |
| 33. | 17 | FIX Brannan UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | 1:08:20 | +5:08 |
| 34. | 31 | SCOTT Cody CANADA | 1:08:51 | +5:39 |
| 35. | 42 | RUSSENBERGER Wanja SWITZERLAND | 1:08:56 | +5:44 |
| 36. | 33 | VALENTI Luke CANADA | 1:09:11 | +5:59 |
| 37. | 14 | BROWN Sam UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | -1 LAP | |
| 38. | 35 | VIALLE Alexandre CANADA | -2 LAP | |
| 39. | 47 | ANDERSON Jonathan UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | -2 LAP | |
| 40. | 36 | WOODFORD Alexander CANADA | -2 LAP | |
| 41. | 45 | NYSTROM SPENCER Felipe Timoteo COSTA RICA | -4 LAP | |
| 42. | 46 | OKENFUSS Jon LUXEMBOURG | -4 LAP | |
| 43. | 32 | SWEET Benjamin CANADA | -5 LAP | |
| 44. | 28 | BRISEBOIS Hugo CANADA | -5 LAP | |
| 24 | STROHMEYER Andrew CXHAIRS DEVO TREK BIKES | DNF |
