Pauwels and Cant secure UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup elite titles

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Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) and Sanne Cant (Enertherm - BKCP) secured the elite overall titles at the 2014-15 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup following the sixth round in Hoogerheide on Sunday. Michael Vanthourenhout (Sunweb - Napoleon Games) won the under-23 title and Eli Iserbyt (Belgium) won the junior title.

The World Cup in Hoogereide was also the last chance for the racers to test themselves against one another ahead of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Tabor, Czech Republic from January 31 to February 1.

Pauwels went into the final World Cup as the leader and only had to finish with one point in order to secure the elite men’s title. Young Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel (BKCP-Powerplus) won the round ahead of Wout Van Aert (Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace), while Pauwels crossed the line in fourth, beside his teammate Gianni Vermeersch, who took third on the day.

"Obviously I'm happy with this World Cup win," Pauwels told Sport.be. "At the beginning of this season, I didn't expect this but I've had a very good season behind me.

"On the other hand, I did note that Mathieu van der Poel was a size too big today. A week before the World Championships, he makes it a demonstration." Pauwels said of the under-23 rider Van de Poel, who will compete in the elite men's race, along with Van Aert, at Worlds.

Pauwels placed second at the opener in Valkenburg, and second again in Koksijde. He went on to win the third round in Milton Keynes and won the fourth round in Namur. He finished second place in Heusden-Zolder and fourth in Hoogerheide.

Cant claims first-ever World Cup overall title

Cant placed fourth in the elite women’s finale round, behind solo winner Eva Lechner (Colnago Sudtirol), Katerina Nash (Luna Pro) and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Rabo Liv Women Cycling). It was enough to secure her first World Cup overall title.

"I had a great season," Cant told Sport.be. "European champion, Belgian champion and now the victory in the World Cup, I'm very proud.

"Now the rainbow jersey," she said. "With Marianne [Vos] you never know. It is difficult to estimate my chances for Tabor. I hope I can join in the mix that goes for the rainbow jersey."

The Belgium champion was seventh in Vaulkenburg, won the rounds in Koksijde and Milton Keynes, was sixth in Namur, seventh in Heusden-Zolder and fourth in Hoogerheide.

Vanthourenhout and Iserbyt secure U23 and junior series' titles

In the under-23 series, Vanthourenhout went into the final round in second place overall, behind Van Aert. However, Van Aert and Van der Poel chose to compete in the elite race and were not in contention for the under-23 title. Vanthourenhout placed second in the Hoogerheide event, behind the day’s Laurens Sweeck (Corendon - KwadrO Cycling Team), which was all he needed to win the series five points ahead of Sweeck.

In the junion men’s category, Belgium’s Eli Iserbyt was the clear winner of the World Cup title. He won three of the four rounds in Vaulkenberg, Heusden-Zolder and Hoogerheide, and he was second in Namur.

Final Results