WC in cyclocross 2026
Women’s U23 race results:
Slovakian cyclist Viktória Chladoňová became vice-champion of the cyclocross world under 23 on Sunday in the Dutch city of Hulst.
After finishing sixth in her debut in this category last year, she was stronger this time and confirmed her excellent form from the World Cup.
In the final round, she fought for the rainbow jersey with Leonie Bentveldová from home, she got away from her for a while, but in the end the Dutchwoman was beyond her strength. Célia Geryová, the world champion in road racing, was third.
The course of the U23 women’s race
Chladoňová did not have the best start and lost almost ten seconds to the leading female competitors. However, at the end of the first of five rounds, she caught up with them and it was obvious that she was going to join the battle for the precious metals.
Already in the second circuit, she even started to increase the pace and became independent at the front, where she won an approximately five-second advantage over Bentveld, the Frenchwoman Gery and also the Belgian Fleur Moors.
VIDEO: Viktória Chladoňová during the World Cyclocross Championship 2026
In the third round, the fight for the title narrowed down to the Slovakian-Dutch duo, because Geryová fell, had to change the bike and, like Moorsová, lost contact.
Bentveldová subsequently erased a small loss to Chladoňová and although it seemed that I had the so-called momentum on her side, the young Slovak held her own.
They entered the last round shoulder to shoulder, Chladoňová setting the pace.
However, in one of the demanding steep descents, the local cyclist showed more courage, went through it braver, faster and gained an important lead.
The native of Soblahov was unable to erase it, and a few tens of meters before the finish line, it was clear that she would win the silver medal. At the finish line, she had time to clap with fans and a smile could be seen on her face.
For Chladoňová, it is the third silver medal from the U23 WC in just over four months. Last year at the World Road Championships, she was second in the time trial and also in the mass race, where she was beaten by Célia Geryová in the end.
