Wout van Aert has booked his first victory of his early cyclocross season in the World Cup in Dublin. Despite a collision against a post and a rag in his wheel, the Belgian champion was able to triumph on Irish soil. World Cup leader Laurens Sweeck did an excellent job as second, world champion Tom Pidcock was third.
Ireland organized a World Cup cross for the first time and that tasted like more: a lot of people, real cross conditions and spectacle for the women and men.
In the mud and the cold, many expected a one-man show from Van Aert, who only had to tolerate Mathieu van der Poel at his first cross last week.
But the Belgian champion, starting from the third row, took his time moving up. It was Eli Iserbyt who took off like a madman and took the lead for 1.5 laps.
