There were all kinds of Canadians racing on Saturday, the fifth round of the 2024-2025 UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Hulst, Netherlands. Niels Vandeputte made his mark in the elite men’s category. The Belgian rider, twice a runner-up this season, claimed his first elite World Cup victory and his third win overall this year. Series leader Michael Vanthourenhout, who has been in red-hot form, struggled on the challenging, muddy course but maintained his lead, sitting 28 points ahead of Toon Aerts.
Earlier in the day, Émilien Belzile finished as the top Canadian in the junior men’s contest, while Maxime St. Onge was the best Canuck in the under-23 men’s race.
Canada’s Rafaelle Carrier won the junior women’s race after four laps of a tricky, rainy, muddy course, 31 seconds ahead of a Czech rider. In the elite women’s contest, Luxembourger Marie Schreiber took a huge win. Runner-up Lucinda Brand increased her series lead, and Schreiber moved over the absent Fem van Empel into second overall. The top Canadian was Ava Holmgren in 15th, and her twin Bella came 20th.
All photos below by Cody Shimizu
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