Van Aert wins CrossVegas, takes first World Cup leader’s jersey
Nys and Vanthourenhout round out all-Belgian podium
Wout Van Aert (Vastgoedservice-Golden Palace) won the first-ever non-European UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Wednesday under the sparkling lights of Las Vegas, Nevada, soloing to an impressive CrossVegas win ahead of fellow Belgians Sven Nys and Michael Vanthourenhout (Sunweb-Napolean Games).
Desert Breeze Soccer Complex, which hosted the ninth running of CrossVegas, lived up to its name Wednesday as winds whipped throughout the 67-minute race on the thick park grass.
The conditions didn’t appear to slow the riders, however, as the pack of 70 cruised over the course in one long, strung out line for the first several laps.
Although Tom Meeusen (Telenet-Fidea) won the hole shot and led early on during the first lap, it was Vanthourenhout who put in the first real attack of the race. The move netted him a gap that grew out to a maximum of 30 seconds.
“When I took 30 seconds, I really felt pretty good and I had hope for the end but then I saw two really strong riders coming and I said, ‘OK, I’ll hold back a little bit and then try to catch up,’” Vanthourenhout said.
The two approaching riders were Nys and eventual winner Van Aert, who said he knew with Vanthourenhout’s strength they could not leave him alone off the front for long.
“I know him from the youth categories in Belgium,” Van Aert said. “He’s a strong rider. He’s always difficult to catch back when he’s got a good pace.
“I knew we can’t wait long to make a move in the front,” Van Aert said. “And then I saw that Sven was in the front, and before in the race he was always a little bit more in the back. So I knew he was strong, and he wanted also to go in the front.”
Van Aert and Nys slowly reeled in Vanthourenhout after several laps of chasing, and once together the trio continued to open up its advantage over a group of about 15, who were being led by US champion Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus).
Vanthourenhout lost contact with Van Aerts and Nys with three laps to go, drifting back into no-man’s land while fighting to hold off the chase.
“I really tried to keep on as long as I could,” Vanthourenhout said. “But then at a certain moment I had to let them go. Then I said I would ride my own race and I kept my third place, which was really good.”
With Vanthourenhout gone from the lead, Van Aert quickly seized the moment and attacked Nys, gaining an advantage over his fellow Belgian and then pressing the issue. Nys trailed about 15-20 seconds behind, with Vanthourenhout still holding onto his third-place spot.
“I thought maybe I had to try more,” Van Aert said. “But after the first one I already had a gap. Afterwards it was just giving all I had. It was really difficult the last two laps to keep on pushing and keep up the pace, because it is a really heavy course. The ground is really heavy, and also a lot of wind on the field. It was a hard one, but I’m very happy to start the season like this.”
Meanwhile, Powers continued to do the work in the chase, and his efforts whittled the group down to just himself, Lars van der Haar (Giant-Alpecin) and 2014-15 World Cup winner Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Napolean Games). The two European riders were content to let Powers do the pulling, sitting in his slipstream and waiting to pounce at the finish.
Van Aert showed his class with a spectacular final two laps, holding off Nys by 23 seconds at the finish. Vanthourenhout came in 44 seconds down for third, while Van der Haar and Pauwels both slipped past Powers to round out the top five.
Van Aaert said he was especially proud to have the opportunity to wear the World Cup leader’s jersey next month during round two in Valkenburg.
“Last year I was two times the World Cup leader in the U23 category, but I had not the option to wear it because there was a world champion right there,” Van Aert said. “Right now it’s going to be the first time I can race in it, and it’s really something that I can look forward to, to do that in Valkenburg next month.
“I’m just really happy to start like this,” he said. “For every rider that is a little dream to do that, and it gives you a lot of confidence to keep doing the good work going into winter.”
Full Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Wout Van Aert (Bel) Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace Continental Team | 1:07:00 |
2 | Sven Nys (Bel) | 0:00:23 |
3 | Michael Vanthourenhout (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team | 0:00:44 |
4 | Lars Van Der Haar (Ned) Team Giant - Alpecin | 0:00:52 |
5 | Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
6 | Jeremy Powers (USA) | 0:00:54 |
7 | Laurens Sweeck (Bel) Era Real Estate - Murprotec | 0:01:30 |
8 | Jens Adams (Bel) Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace Continental Team | 0:01:40 |
9 | Corne Van Kessel (Ned) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team | 0:01:48 |
10 | Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Julien Taramarcaz (Swi) Era Real Estate - Murprotec | 0:01:49 |
12 | Ryan Trebon (USA) | 0:01:52 |
13 | Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team | 0:02:04 |
14 | Niels Wubben (Ned) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team | 0:02:17 |
15 | Jim Aernouts (Bel) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team | 0:02:31 |
16 | Vincent Baestaens (Bel) Bkcp-Corendon | 0:02:34 |
17 | Adam Toupalik (Cze) Bkcp-Corendon | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Steve Chainel (Fra) | 0:02:37 |
19 | Radomir Simunek (Cze) Era Real Estate - Murprotec | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Curtis White (USA) Optum P/B Kelly Benefit Strategies | 0:02:38 |
21 | Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | Adam Craig (USA) | 0:02:46 |
23 | Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team | 0:02:49 |
24 | Michael Boros (Cze) Bkcp-Corendon | 0:02:51 |
25 | Diether Sweeck (Bel) Era Real Estate - Murprotec | 0:02:54 |
26 | Ian Field (GBr) | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
27 | Javier Ruiz De Larrinaga Ibanez (Spa) | 0:02:56 |
28 | James Driscoll (USA) | 0:03:03 |
29 | Toon Aerts (Bel) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team | 0:03:20 |
30 | Philipp Walsleben (Ger) Bkcp-Corendon | 0:03:28 |
31 | Simon Zahner (Swi) | 0:03:29 |
32 | Daniel Summerhill (USA) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling Team | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Stan Godrie (Ned) Rabobank Development Team | 0:03:31 |
34 | Travis Livermon (USA) Team Smartstop | 0:03:36 |
35 | Jeremy Martin (Can) | 0:03:37 |
36 | Derek Zandstra (Can) Scott-3Rox Racing | 0:03:46 |
37 | Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Scott-Odlo Mtb Racing Team | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Brian Matter (USA) | 0:03:57 |
39 | Lukas Winterberg (Swi) | 0:04:01 |
40 | Lachlan Norris (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling | 0:04:05 |
41 | Allen Krughoff (USA) | 0:04:07 |
42 | Craig Richey (Can) | 0:04:16 |
43 | Dan Timmerman (USA) | 0:04:30 |
44 | David Van Der Poel (Ned) Bkcp-Corendon | 0:04:37 |
45 | Kerry Werner (USA) Optum P/B Kelly Benefit Strategies | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
46 | Tim Merlier (Bel) Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace Continental Team | 0:04:49 |
47 | Mark Mcconnell (Can) | 0:04:57 |
48 | Geoff Kabush (Can) Scott-3Rox Racing | 0:05:30 |
49 | Christopher Aitken (Aus) | 0:05:41 |
50 | Tobin Ortenblad (USA) | 0:06:03 |
51 | Stephen Hyde (USA) Astellas Cycling Team | 0:06:04 |
52 | Aaron Schooler (Can) | 0:06:33 |
53 | Benjamin Sonntag (Ger) | 0:06:39 |
54 | Evan Mcneely (Can) | 0:07:19 |
55 | Tom Chapman (Aus) | 0:07:27 |
56 | Kenneth Hansen (Den) | -1 Lap |
57 | Jonathan Page (USA) | -1 Lap |
58 | Garry Millburn (Aus) | -1 Lap |
59 | Jack Hogan (Aus) | -1 Lap |
60 | Michael Van Den Ham (Can) | -1 Lap |
61 | Hugo Robinson (GBr) | -2 Laps |
62 | Yoshitaka Hama (Jpn) | -2 Laps |
63 | Sascha Weber (Ger) Cct P/B Champion System | -2 Laps |
64 | Zach Mcdonald (USA) | -3 Laps |
65 | Jeremy Durrin (USA) | -3 Laps |
66 | Oleksiy Ukhanov (Ukr) | -4 Laps |
67 | Jarno Trey (Est) | -7 Laps |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Wout Van Aert (Bel) Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace Continental Team | 80 | pts |
2 | Sven Nys (Bel) | 70 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Michael Vanthourenhout (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team | 65 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Lars Van Der Haar (Ned) Team Giant - Alpecin | 60 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
5 | Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team | 55 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
6 | Jeremy Powers (USA) | 50 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
7 | Laurens Sweeck (Bel) Era Real Estate - Murprotec | 48 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
8 | Jens Adams (Bel) Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace Continental Team | 46 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
9 | Van Corne Kessel (Ned) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team | 44 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
10 | Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team | 42 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
11 | Julien Taramarcaz (Swi) Era Real Estate - Murprotec | 40 | Row 10 - Cell 3 |
12 | Ryan Trebon (USA) | 39 | Row 11 - Cell 3 |
13 | Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team | 38 | Row 12 - Cell 3 |
14 | Niels Wubben (Ned) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team | 37 | Row 13 - Cell 3 |
15 | Jim Aernouts (Bel) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team | 36 | Row 14 - Cell 3 |
16 | Vincent Baestaens (Bel) Bkcp-Corendon | 35 | Row 15 - Cell 3 |
17 | Adam Toupalik (Cze) Bkcp-Corendon | 34 | Row 16 - Cell 3 |
18 | Steve Chainel (Fra) | 33 | Row 17 - Cell 3 |
19 | Radomir Simunek (Cze) Era Real Estate - Murprotec | 32 | Row 18 - Cell 3 |
20 | Curtis White (USA) Optum P/B Kelly Benefit Strategies | 31 | Row 19 - Cell 3 |
21 | Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team | 30 | Row 20 - Cell 3 |
22 | Adam Craig (USA) | 29 | Row 21 - Cell 3 |
23 | Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team | 28 | Row 22 - Cell 3 |
24 | Michael Boros (Cze) Bkcp-Corendon | 27 | Row 23 - Cell 3 |
25 | Diether Sweeck (Bel) Era Real Estate - Murprotec | 26 | Row 24 - Cell 3 |
26 | Ian Field (GBr) | 25 | Row 25 - Cell 3 |
27 | Javier Ruiz De Larrinaga Ibanez (Spa) | 24 | Row 26 - Cell 3 |
28 | James Driscoll (USA) | 23 | Row 27 - Cell 3 |
29 | Toon Aerts (Bel) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team | 22 | Row 28 - Cell 3 |
30 | Philipp Walsleben (Ger) Bkcp-Corendon | 21 | Row 29 - Cell 3 |
31 | Simon Zahner (Swi) | 20 | Row 30 - Cell 3 |
32 | Daniel Summerhill (USA) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling Team | 19 | Row 31 - Cell 3 |
33 | Stan Godrie (Ned) Rabobank Development Team | 18 | Row 32 - Cell 3 |
34 | Travis Livermon (USA) Team Smartstop | 17 | Row 33 - Cell 3 |
35 | Jeremy Martin (Can) | 16 | Row 34 - Cell 3 |
36 | Derek Zandstra (Can) Scott-3Rox Racing | 15 | Row 35 - Cell 3 |
37 | Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Scott-Odlo Mtb Racing Team | 14 | Row 36 - Cell 3 |
38 | Brian Matter (USA) | 13 | Row 37 - Cell 3 |
39 | Lukas Winterberg (Swi) | 12 | Row 38 - Cell 3 |
40 | Lachlan Norris (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling | 11 | Row 39 - Cell 3 |
41 | Allen Krughoff (USA) | 10 | Row 40 - Cell 3 |
42 | Craig Richey (Can) | 9 | Row 41 - Cell 3 |
43 | Dan Timmerman (USA) | 8 | Row 42 - Cell 3 |
44 | David Van Der Poel (Ned) Bkcp-Corendon | 7 | Row 43 - Cell 3 |
45 | Kerry Werner (USA) Optum P/B Kelly Benefit Strategies | 6 | Row 44 - Cell 3 |
46 | Tim Merlier (Bel) Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace Continental Team | 5 | Row 45 - Cell 3 |
47 | Mark Mcconnell (Can) | 4 | Row 46 - Cell 3 |
48 | Geoff Kabush (Can) Scott-3Rox Racing | 3 | Row 47 - Cell 3 |
49 | Christopher Aitken (Aus) | 2 | Row 48 - Cell 3 |
50 | Tobin Ortenblad (USA) | 1 | Row 49 - Cell 3 |
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Growing up in Missoula, Montana, Pat competed in his first bike race in 1985 at Flathead Lake. He studied English and journalism at the University of Oregon and has covered North American cycling extensively since 2009, as well as racing and teams in Europe and South America. Pat currently lives in the US outside of Portland, Oregon, with his imaginary dog Rusty.
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