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While the Namur Elite Men's and Elite Women's World Cup races from the 2016 Namur UCI Cyclocross World Cup were thrillers, the U23 Men's race was no slouch either, especially the race for second.

Watch Joris Nieuwenhuis literally ride away from the field the first time up the climb, leaving others to chase on foot and attempt to stay upright in the battle for second, with a few epic crashes.

Joris Nieuwenhuis was one of the few to ride the climbs early on in the race, and they were invaluable in gaining an early lead. 2016 Namur Cyclocross World Cup, U23 Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Joris Nieuwenhuis was one of the few to ride the climbs early on in the race, and they were invaluable in gaining an early lead. 2016 Namur Cyclocross World Cup, U23 Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Quinten Hermans, Thijs Aerts, Clement Russo, World Champ Eli Iserbyt and the almost World Champ Adam Toupalik all took turns at the front of the chase of World Cup leader Nieuwenhuis.

U23 World Champ Eli Iserbyt leads the chase and the battle or silver. 2016 Namur Cyclocross World Cup, U23 Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

U23 World Champ Eli Iserbyt leads the chase and the battle or silver. 2016 Namur Cyclocross World Cup, U23 Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Five Americans took to the start, and while they didn't get much air time in the highlight video above, gpscyclingtour.be posted some amateur video footage from one of Namur's climbs, in which the Americans feature prominently.

See Pan American Champion Curtis White, ahead of World Champion Eli Iserbyt, attack the tough Namur climbs while in the main chase group of leader Joris Nieuwenhuis, with the rest of Americans close behind. White would finish in 17th.

Curtis White had a strong start and finished 17th. 2016 Namur Cyclocross World Cup, U23 Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Curtis White had a strong start and finished 17th. 2016 Namur Cyclocross World Cup, U23 Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Proudly showing off Team USA colors were Gage Hecht 29th, Cooper Willsey in 32nd, Eric Brunner in 35th, Maxx Chance in 46th. See them all tackle Namur in the video below, with a photo gallery below the results.

First-year U23 Gage Hecht finished 29th. 2016 Namur Cyclocross World Cup, U23 Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

First-year U23 Gage Hecht finished 29th. 2016 Namur Cyclocross World Cup, U23 Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Stay tuned for full coverage of the Junior Men's race from Namur.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07NfFeXcmos

2016 Namur UCI Cyclocross World Cup Results - U23 Men

RankNameNat.Age*ResultPts
1Joris NIEUWENHUISNED2152:51:00100
2Quinten HERMANSBEL2253:43:0060
3Thijs AERTSBEL2153:48:0040
4Clement RUSSOFRA2253:51:0030
5Eli ISERBYTBEL2053:56:0025
6Nicolas CLEPPEBEL2254:04:0020
7Adam TOUPALIKCZE2154:12:0017
8Lucas DUBAUFRA2154:17:0015
9Gioele BERTOLINIITA2254:28:0012
10Jonas DEGROOTEBEL2254:31:0010
11Yannick PEETERSBEL2154:42:008
12Nadir COLLEDANIITA2254:44:006
13Jakob DORIGONIITA1954:44:004
14Felipe ORTS LLORETESP2254:51:002
15Kobe GOOSSENSBEL2155:00:001
16Maik VAN DER HEIJDENNED2055:07:00
17Curtis WHITEUSA2255:23:00
18Thomas JOSEPHBEL2155:28:00
19Jens DEKKERNED1955:57:00
20Simon ANDREASSENDEN2056:21:00
21Joshua DUBAUFRA2156:25:00
22Niels DERVEAUXBEL2056:29:00
23Kevin KUHNSUI1956:36:00
24Wesley FLORENNED2056:42:00
25Gosse VAN DER MEERNED2256:55:00
26Jelle SCHUERMANSBEL2157:00:00
27Jappe JASPERSBEL1957:13:00
28Sieben WOUTERSNED2157:16:00
29Gage HECHTUSA1957:54:00
30Lander LOOCKXBEL2057:55:00
31Seppe ROMBOUTSBEL1958:12:00
32Cooper WILLSEYUSA2058:13:00
33Lukas MEILERGER22
34Frazer CLACHERTYGBR20
35Eric BRUNNERUSA19
36Nicolas PRUVOTFRA22
37Matej ULIKSVK20
38Roel VAN DER STEGENNED20
39Johan JACOBSSUI20
40Daniel MAYERCZE20
41David CONROYIRL19
42David JARYCZE19
43Jonas BREZINACZE19
44David ERIKSSONSWE22
45Paul LINDENAUGER21
46Maxx CHANCEUSA21
47Jokin ALBERDI MENDIZABALESP19
48Jon MUNITXA ARRINDAESP21
49Noah FRIESLUX19
50Martin MEILERGER19
51Simon VOZARSVK22
52Andreas Lund ANDRESENDEN19
53Luc WEISLUX19

2016 Namur UCI Cyclocross World Cup U23 Men Photo Gallery:

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Van der Heijden tripods to avoid sliding down the rutted off-camber. 2016 Namur Cyclocross World Cup, U23 Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Van der Heijden tripods to avoid sliding down the rutted off-camber. 2016 Namur Cyclocross World Cup, U23 Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

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