In his second cyclo-cross of the season, Tom Pidcock immediately won big. The British former World Champion convincingly won the UCI World Cup in Namur ahead of Dutchmen Pim Ronhaar and Joris Nieuwenhuis. Eli Iserbyt, who finished fourth, remains leader in the World Championships classification.
Pidcock had to start from the third row forcing him to chase from the start. Pim Ronhaar and Joris Nieuwenhuis pushed hard and soon created a gap. Eli Iserbyt and co were unable to catch up with the Dutch Baloise-Trek Lions duo.
Halfway through the race, Pidcock thought it was time to step up a gear. The Brit rode away from the group of Iserbyt and went hunting for Nieuwenhuis and Ronhaar. The latter sensed the approaching danger and accelerated, forcing Nieuwenhuis to drop away from the front.
Pidcock soon picked up Nieuwenhuis and then set his sights on Ronhaar, who defended himself valiantly, but Pidcock’s comeback was inevitable. The Olympic Mountain Bike Champion and ex-World Cyclo-Cross Champion levelled with and then overtook Ronhaar. At the finish, Pidcock, who had previously finished second and third at the Citadel but had never been able to win there, ended up 15 seconds ahead of Ronhaar and 33 ahead of Nieuwenhuis.
Eli Iserbyt was the first Belgian to finish in fourth place with 52 seconds. The rider from West Flanders remains leader in the UCI World Cup. Fifth place went to Michael Vanthourenhout, a two-time winner in Namur.
