Vos takes over lead of women's UCI 'cross rankings

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Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Revor) extended his lead in the elite men's UCI 'cross rankings over compatriot Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet) while for the first time this season Marianne Vos (Nederland Bloeit) tops the elite women's standings, a position held in all the previous rankings by Katie Compton (Rabobank-Giant Off-road Team).

Pauwels' position was strengthened by his victory in the sixth round of the UCI World Cup in Zolder on Tuesday with a narrow sprint victory over world champion Zdenek Stybar (Quick Step). Pauwels also finished second at Superprestige Diegem last Friday which contributed to his points total of 2,380.

Nys remains at second overall in the standings with 2,290 points. Nys finished third in the Zolder round of the World Cup after a crash entering the finishing straight prevented him from contesting the sprint against Pauwels and Stybar.

Stybar holds third overall with 1.950 points while Belgian champion Niels Albert remains in fourth at 1,494.

Jeremy Powers (Rapha Focus) remains the highest-ranked North American rider at 11th place with 924 points.

The top five of the elite men's nation standings remains unchanged with Belgium in its familiar position atop the rankings at 6,164 points. France holds second with 2,972 points, 43 points ahead of third-placed Czech Republic.

The red hot Marianne Vos (Nederland Bloeit) has been on a tear of late and her series of victories, coupled with Katie Compton (Rabobank-Giant Off-road Team) not contesting any races since the previous rankings were released, has moved the Dutchwoman into the lead for the first time this season. Since the previous rankings tabulation, Vos won the Zolder round of the World Cup, Superprestige Diegem and Internationale Centrumcross van Surhuisterveen which brings her points total to 1,860. Compton now holds second overall with 1,800 points.

Third through fifth remains unchanged, held by Sanne van Paassen (1,530), Katerina Nash (1,450) and Helen Wyman (1,419) respectively.

No changes took place at the top of the elite women's nations standings with the Netherlands, United States, Great Britain, Czech Republic and France remaining in first through fifth respectively.

In the junior men's standings Dutch phenom Mathieu van der Poel remains first overall with 150 points. Frenchman Quentin Jauregui hold second with 86 points followed by Belgium's Wout van Aert with 61 points.

No changes took place in the junior men's nations standings, led by the Netherlands with 187 points. France, Belgium, the United States and Spain hold second through fifth respectively.