MADRID, 4 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel has defended his rainbow jersey after winning this Sunday in the Cyclocross World Championship, which was held in Tabor (Czech Republic), while the Spanish Felipe Orts has managed to enter the 'Top 10 ' of the quote being tenth.
In a competition without the Belgian Wout van Aert and the British Thomas Pidcock, Van der Poel had no rival and dominated the event without opposition (58:14), in which he won his sixth title in the winter category (2015, 2019, 2020 , 2021, 2023 and 2024), just one behind the record of Belgian Erik de Vlaeminck (7).
The Dutchman Joris Nieuwenhuis, who finished 37 seconds behind the winner and took the silver, and the Belgian Michael Vanthourenhout, bronze 1:06 behind Van der Poel, completed the podium of the race in Czech lands.
For his part, Felipe Orts from Alicante achieved a creditable tenth place, his best result in a World Championship; Only he and the Czech Michael Boros – seventh – managed to sneak into a 'Top 10' full of Dutch and Belgians.
The man from Vila Joiosa completed a good start to place himself within the first eleven, an area that he would not leave throughout the race, riding for a good part of it in the group of four that was fighting for seventh position. The last lap marked the definitive differences, placing the Spaniard in tenth position.
“I had been able to reach the 'Top 10' for many years, but I didn't achieve it, I'm happy. We were looking to be higher, but to be within the top ten with the level that exists… It's a great result to round out the season. I am very happy and content with the race I have done, which has been very hard,” said Orts.
The other Spaniards in the running, the Cantabrian Kevin Suárez and the Asturian Mario Junquera, finished in 23rd and 29th position. In the junior category, Hodei Muñoz was 29th, Unax Galán 44th and David Ivars, 63rd.