From the first of the nine laps, Toon Aerts was alone in the lead, forcing Tom Pidcock, big favorite in the absence of Wout van Aert and the Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel, to work. Returning quickly, the Briton accelerated on the second lap without managing to distance himself.
On the fourth lap, Pidcock accelerated once more and this time isolated himself at the head of the race. Behind, Eli Iserbyt was waiting for the help of Laurens Sweeck and Michael Vanthourenhout to try to get back on the Briton.
With more than 30 seconds ahead with three laps to go, Pidcock might manage his lead to win alone. Behind, Lars van der Haar, reigning European champion, settled the sprint for second place ahead of Eli Iserbyt.
Junior world champion in 2017 and hopefuls in 2019, the 22-year-old Briton won the first world championship title of his professional career, the first for a British rider in the men’s elite. Last year he finished third behind Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert in Ostend. This season he had won both rounds of the World Cup in Ruchpen and Hulst.
With Eli Iserbyt’s bronze medal, Belgium won a total of five medals at these world championships. Three among the men’s hopes with the gold of Joran Wyseure, the silver of Emiel Verstrynge and the bronze of Thibau Nys on Saturday. Aaron Dockx won the silver medal in the junior boys on Sunday.
“I found the right moment to accelerate”
Tom Pidcock won the first professional cyclocross world championship title on Sunday in Fayetteville in the United States. “I came with a plan and it went perfectly,” reacted the Briton during the flash interview following the race.
“It was a very tactical race. My competitors tried to make the race difficult for me and I knew I had to react quickly. I found the right moment to accelerate and it worked for me”, assured Pidcock, already world champion among juniors in 2017 and among hopefuls in 2019.
Big favorite in the absence of Wout van Aert and the Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel, the Briton assumed his status to win alone. “I knew that this race would not be won in advance. I am used to difficult races and this one was no exception to the rule. However, we had to manage the stress, which was not easy. I came with a plan and it went perfectly.” (