One day after an unforgettable day for Tormans Cyclo Cross Team during which Zoe Bäckstedt and Joran Wyseure became world champions, the U23 women and elite men battled for the rainbow jerseys on the circuit in Fayetteville (Arkansas). Four members of the Belgian team defended the colors of their nations. Marie Schreiber and Kevin Kuhn were among the youngest riders in their category and managed to finish in the top ten of their race.
18 year old Marie Schreiber was the only representant of Luxembourg at the world championships and lined up for her first U23 world championships at 20h (Belgian time). She was one of the only women to be able to follow the dominating Dutch trio Pieterse, van Anrooij and van Empel in the beginning of the race. Once the orange team distinguished itself in the third lap, Schreiber remained one of the first chasers and finished the race in sixth place.
The second world championships on American soil in history were concluded by the elite men’s race at 21h30. It looked like the sixth and final rainbow race of the weekend would stay closed for a long time as the positions in a group of eleven riders with Kevin Kuhn and Corné van Kessel never stopped changing.
The decision was made halfway through the race, when Pidcock (Great Britain) attacked the Belgian team and split the group. With an impressive average speed of 27 kilometer per hour, the Briton rode towards the world title. After finishing 13th in his first elite world championships last year, Swiss rider Kevin Kuhn showed again his continuous improvement by crossing the line in Centennial park in ninth position. Thomas Mein, compatriot of the new world champion, concluded the top twenty. Corné van Kessel finished his twelfth world championships in 26th place.
