World champion back on top

The reigning cyclo-cross world champion, Lars Boom, made his return to the top of the sport with two strong performances this past week. After a slow start to the 'cross season which saw the Dutchman barely inside the top ten in the first two World Cups, Boom stormed into November with two second places in Oudenaarde and Veghel-Eerde. He completed his climb to the top in the Pijnacker World Cup, where he took a dramatic duel with Niels Albert.

In a similarly muddy affair, Boom returned to the top of the podium two days later, where he powered through the thick muck in the Jaarmarktcross Niel to distance Albert and Belgian champion, Sven Nys by more than half a minute.

"This win was rather easy," Boom said. "I was riding smoothly and once I had fifteen seconds I knew that I could keep that gap without a problem. During the last three laps I rode a little harder on the road towards the finish line to extend my lead," Boom said.