Marianne Vos powers away to win at World Cup Iowa City

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Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) powered up the tough Mt Krumpit climb on the final lap, shaking Denise Betsema (Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal) to seal victory at the third round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Iowa City, Iowa. 

Kata Blanka Vas (SD Worx), who had earlier slipped back from the leading duo, held on for third while world champion Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) was just off the podium in fourth.

"The intervals came in quick succession, so it was tough," Vos said. "I didn’t let Betsema and Vas come back on purpose to add to the tension. They approached quickly, and I knew it was still far."

After adding another victory to her opening win at Waterloo, Vos took the early lead in the World Cup standings, with a tally of 102 points putting her ten points ahead of Brand.

Vos, however, is now going to be taking a break after having a heavy load at the end of her road season. The seven-time cyclo-cross world champion was on the podium of the Paris-Roubaix just one week before taking to the top step at the opening round of the Cyclo-cross World Cup in Waterloo.

"It was a great experience here in America," said Vos. "We had three beautiful races and the atmosphere was amazing. With these results, I can go home with great satisfaction. I’ll take a short break and then I will build up to the second part of the season."

Betsema – who came second to Brand in the muddy conditions at Fayetteville and took the final step of the podium behind Vos and Brand in Waterloo – is sitting third in the World Cup standings at 85 points. Vas, after stepping up to the podium in Iowa City, slotted into fourth place but is also the lead U23 rider. That is turning into a tight competition with two young riders launching into the season strongly, with Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Fenix) just one spot and five points back in the overall standings.

The race, which closed out the US World Cup rounds for the year, was quickly broken up as Vos did not hold back in the early stages. She quickly escaped alone, however the chase behind was unrelenting. 

Pieterse, who was one of those among the women’s field bunnyhopping the barriers, and Betsema caught up in the fourth lap of the eight lap race. Then it wasn’t long before Annemarie Worst (777) and the SD Worx rider Vas also worked their way back to the front.

By the time it came to three laps to go both Pieterse and Worst had faded, leaving the trio of Betsema, Vos and Vas to decide the podium spots. After a slip as she lost traction through a corner, Vas watched the top two positions ride away and it became a race for the win between Betsema and Vos.

Not leaving it to the sprint, Vos dug in on the Mt Krumpit climb, getting the gap and holding it to the finish to come over the line ten seconds ahead of Betsema. World Champion Brand had worked her way up the field in the latter stages of the race to finish fourth, but was never in sight of the podium having finished 30 seconds behind Vas. Pieterse was next over the line, winning out in a tight battle to the end with Worst, to make it two fifth places in a row.

The World Cup now shifts back to Belgium, with Zonhoven on Oct 24 and then onto Overijse on Oct 31.