Racing got underway at the 2017 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships Saturday in Bieles, Luxembourg with a trio of exciting races on a tricky, punchy course.
Great Britain nailed a podium sweep in the junior men's race that opened the event. Thomas Pidcock took the win, with compatriots Daniel Tulett and Ben Turner in second and third.
Annemarie Worst delivered an under-23 women's title for the Netherlands next, pulling away from runner-up Ellen Noble (USA) in the final lap. Great Britain's Evie Richards nabbed third.
The elite women closed out the day's racing with a down-to-the-wire thriller that saw Belgium's Sanne Cant bring home her first career world title just ahead of seven-time champion Marianne Vos after a thrilling, back-and-forth final lap. Katerina Nash of the Czech Republic rounded out the podium in third.
On the final day, Dutch rider Joris Nieuwenhuis won the men's U23 race ahead of Spain's Felipe Orts Lloret and fellow Dutch rider Sieben Wouters. In the elite men's race, Belgium's Wout Van Aert successfully defended his rainbow jersey after rival Matthieu van der Poel (Netherlands) flatted at a crucial point in the race. Van der Poel was second, followed by Belgium's Kevin Pauwels.
