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Each year, our fantasy cyclocross contests provide a chance for readers to show their ’cross knowledge and take a temperature of how the collective cyclocross community thinks championship races are going to play out. Our latest contest was the 2019 Worlds Fantasy Cyclocross.

This season, the Elite Women’s and Elite Men’s international fields each had their own unique contours. For the women, the international field had wins spread across a number of riders and heading into Worlds, there was a sense that the winner might be an unexpected one.

On the men’s side, the regular season was all about Mathieu van der Poel, with the Dutch wunderkind winning every race he entered in the three months (!) before the World Championships. However, Van der Poel had entered previous Worlds races as the odds-on favorite, only to come up short, so he had a several-year monkey to get off his back in Bogense.

Would the past be prologue? Was this a year for betting on the underdogs? We take a look at the numbers from our 2019 Fantasy Cyclocross Worlds contest and get to what most of you probably came here for—the winners.

File photo: Cyclocross Magazine readers clamoring to enter our Fantasy Worlds contest. 2019 Cyclocross World Championships, Bogense, Denmark. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

File photo: Cyclocross Magazine readers clamoring to enter our Fantasy Worlds contest. 2019 Cyclocross World Championships, Bogense, Denmark. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Elite Women

This season, something like 13 different women won an international race in Belgium, the Netherlands or the World Cup series. Leading the way among those winners were Sanne Cant (7), Marianne Vos (7), Lucinda Brand (6) and Denise Betsema (5).

Not surprisingly, the top three women on that list led the way for readers’ picks to win the Elite Women’s race in Bogense. Out of 219 valid entries, the breakdown was:

• Brand – 100 – 39%
• Vos – 78 – 30%
• Cant – 35 – 14%

The top pick who wasn’t one of those three? Katie Compton, whom 26 people picked to one-up her second-place finish in Valkenburg last year. In total, 42 percent of entries had Compton on the podium.

The most popular podium choice among contest entries turned out to be the one that actually happened. Thirty-three percent of all entries had a podium with Cant, Brand and Vos. However, only three people correctly picked the Cant – Brand – Vos finishing order, thanks mostly to so few people betting on Sanne Cant.

As we have learned the last three years, bet against Cant on the biggest stage at your own risk.

Only three entries perfectly picked the podium. 2019 Cyclocross World Championships, Bogense, Denmark. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Only three entries perfectly picked the podium. 2019 Cyclocross World Championships, Bogense, Denmark. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

At U.S. Nationals, the leaders after Lap 1 were a bit more definitive than at Worlds. With big groups in both the Elite Women’s and Elite Men’s races, the primes were close ones. For the Elite Women, Worst crossed the line first.

Annemarie Worst was the first across the line in Lap 1.

Annemarie Worst was the first across the line in Lap 1.

Top honors for the Elite Women’s race went to Garrison from New Hampshire and Lindsey from Marshall who both picked the podium correctly and scored 110 points across the Women’s categories and primes.

Elite Men

Given the dominance of Mathieu van der Poel this season, the Elite Men’s race provided an opportunity for enterprising readers to take a bit of a gamble.

Last season in Valkenburg, that gamble paid off. Van Aert finished ahead of Van der Poel in 4 of 25 races before Worlds in 2017/18, giving the Belgian—at least statistically speaking—a 12-percent chance of beating the Dutchman at Worlds. Knowing most other entrants would likely pick Van der Poel last year, picking Van Aert was a high risk – high reward proposition that paid off.

This season, Van Aert finished ahead of Van der Poel in 2 of 19 races, dropping his statistical odds to 10.5-percent. Not that much different than last year, but entering Worlds, Van der Poel had not not won a race since November 1. The Van Aert value bet was seemingly not as good in 2019.

And that is how readers responded.

Fully 85% of entries picked Van der Poel to win his second Elite World Championship. Those who did roll the dice went with Van Aert at a seven-percent clip and four percent of entries selected Aerts, even though Aerts topped Van Aert at Belgian Nationals a month ago.

Even though more entries picked Van Aert versus Aerts for the win, the MvdP – Aerts – WvA podium was the choice of nearly 50 percent of all entries. Thirty percent went with MvdP – WvA – Aerts, which was probably the most common international podium this season. Eighty-six percent of entries had a podium that included those three riders.

The best three of the season. LEighty-six percent of entries had this group on the podium. Thirty percent picked the correct order., 2019 Cyclocross World Championships, Bogense, Denmark. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross MagazineToon Aerts, Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert. Elite Men, 2019 Cyclocross World Championships, Bogense, Denmark. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Eighty-six percent of entries had this group on the podium. Thirty percent picked the correct order., 2019 Cyclocross World Championships, Bogense, Denmark. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

The Lap 1 prime in the Elite Men’s race was also a close one. Lars van der Haar took the prime by maybe a knob or two on his cyclocross tire while leading a large group of riders across the line.

Lars van der Haar just barely led across the line after Lap 1

Lars van der Haar just barely led across the line after Lap 1

Top Elite Men prognostication honors was a tie between Miles of Oregon and Niamh of Ireland, who each picked the top seven finishers correctly. All they were missing were the two primes. Maybe we will consult them for lottery advice.

The Winners

Thank you to our generous sponsors Easton, Feedback Sports, Dean Bikes, Merlin Bikes and Kenda Tires, our prize haul for this edition of Fantasy Worlds is impressive. Prizes go to the top nine finishers, with winners getting dibs in descending order of finish.

Our 2019 winner was Garrison from New Hampshire, who had a total score of 195 points, thanks in large part to his success in the Elite Women’s race.

Miles of Oregon and J from Cottam tied for second with 190 points.

We will be contacting winners soon.

By popular demand, you can check your results in the table below. Thank you to everyone who entered and thanks again to our contest sponsors.

Also, if you don’t already, consider giving our contest sponsors a follow on Instagram: EastonFeedback SportsKenda TiresDean BikesMerlin Bikes.

This post has been updated to reflect a number of entries received after the contest deadline.

Featured image: Kirk Keeler

2019 Fantasy Cyclocross Worlds Final Standings

RankNameLocationTotal ScoreWomen ScoreMen Score
1GarrisonManchester, NH19511085
2MilesBend19055135
JCottam19075115
4ForestJACKSON18560125
BenjaminMt Holly Springs18510580
JosiahSalem18555130
NicolasLos Angeles18565120
8JacobKansas City18075105
JohnNew York18075105
10PatrickRockville Centre, NY17570105
NiamhDublin, Ireland17540135
RichardGroveland17560115
NoahDes Moines17555120
LindseyMarshall17511065
RickTampa17565110
16JaAnnSan Luis Obispo, CA17060110
DerrickFort Worth17045125
ZakGlenside17055115
19MichelleNoblesville16555110
abbyasheville16565100
JoelLiefke16545120
BrianWaseca16550115
DrewLouisville, KY16555110
PaulErie16550115
DaveClear Lake1658580
seanCharlotte16550115
ChaseCincinnati1657095
CurranWhitewater16560105
29MarcFreeport ME16050110
TydemanWoodland Hills16060100
MattNew York16060100
JoOslo1607585
JayGreensboro16060100
RyanHalifax16055105
AnthonyMelbourne, Australia16055105
36NormSan Diego16050110
RonRiverton16035125
38AndyManchester15550105
BobbyHarrisburg15545110
JamesNiskayuna15545110
BradMiddleburgh15550105
StevenWEST CHESTER15530125
JimmyColorado Springs1556095
TomMadison15545110
ScottAlbany15545110
scottnorth vancouver15535120
CodyBoonville, IN15555100
BrianRaleigh15540115
KevinDURHAM15545110
JohnVancouver, BC, Canada15545110
JustinGranville15555100
52StephenToronto, Ontario, Canada15040110
MiriamBurlington, ON15035115
SterlingSeattle15010050
JoeCapitola15050100
MatLawrenceville1507575
Tayloroklahoma city15030120
DylanBerkeley15050100
59ChrisGill14530115
AdrianaMadison1456580
LukeBrewster14540105
TylerRichmond14540105
AnthonySan Marcos, TX1456580
MitchellSanta Cruz14545100
Marc-AntoineRosemere1457075
MartinOttawa14530115
Bellaphiladelphia14545100
JimIowa city14535110
TimMarshall1457075
JoshuaProsper1456085
DavisHuntsville, AL14535110
ClintonBrisbane1455590
73NatashaGatineau1405090
TannerTulsa1405090
ChristopherThunder Bay14025115
GeoffCape Elizabeth, Maine1405585
BrianCalais1406575
ChrisLa Crosse, WI1405090
VirginiaBrights Grove 1406080
80MichaelIowa City1355580
PatrickChicago1354590
BradScotts Valley1356570
JCSeattle13525110
BryanPocatello1356570
RyanPittsburgh1354095
BeckyMonona, WI1355085
GREGORYCarolina Beach13525110
RobPark Ridge1356075
MattBend1354590
JohnMono1355580
TAFFODESSA13535100
MikeStow1355085
93JonLittleton, CO1305575
billRICHFIELD1304585
ChrisMadison1304090
MarkDundas1305080
MarkMount Tremper1304090
JOSHUANEW YORK1306070
FredericSherbrooke1305575
BenjaminArvada1305080
lukeSouthampton, ma1305575
102WillemPhiladelpia1254085
SeanSan Luis Obispo, CA1254580
XavierMontreal, Qc, Canada1254085
BarrySewell1255570
StevenFort Worth1255075
FrankSalem1256560
grahamkensington12525100
DanielPortland, OR1255075
TheronUtica1255075
MatLexington1255075
Genosaka1254580
mikereno1255075
StephenColumbus, Ohio1258045
DavidWashington1255570
JamesPeterborough1255570
PatrickOlathe1253590
118ElisabethPhiladelphia1204080
HenryMadison1203585
SteveIOWA CITY1204575
KarlBend1204575
FernandoDillon1205565
AmandaMillersville1204575
JoshColumbia1204575
AdamNEW YORK1205070
ScottWilmington, De1203090
DaveWest Bend WI1204575
JoshProsper, TX1203585
JamesChico Ca1203090
KyleParker1203090
MattBoston, MA1204575
132GregS. Burlington1155110
DavidStavanger1153580
EricPORTLAND1155065
EdWinston Salem1154570
JohnWilmington, DE, USA1155560
AdamChapel Hill1154570
SusanFolsom,ca.1155560
BenPortland1154570
RobWileville1154570
BenjaminFayetteville1153580
BrendonMedford, MA1155560
EricBeaver, Utah1155065
NatEaston1154075
GaryTrevose1153085
Dimitribelgium1154570
MatthewFallston1155065
HollyBuffalo1154570
BrianAlma1155560
150jbronx1104565
PieterBainbridge Island1105060
AntonyHexham1104565
AdamReston1103575
PettermannBudapest1103080
AlecDurango, CO11010100
DaveMuncie1103080
HunterLong Island City1103080
MikeGainesville, VA 1103575
HansZeist1103575
DavidNew York1103080
DanielCincinnati1104565
GilbertPortland1103080
MerlijnArnhem, the Netherlands1104070
AlexanderWinnipeg1101595
BrianPitt Meadows1105060
GavinChicago1103575
JennBarrie1104565
SpencerRochester, NY11010100
169StephenNew Castle1053570
SeanWoodinville1052085
KEITHMARION1053570
JohnDublin, Ireland 1054065
KeithLas Vegas1053570
RoyceMadison1052085
josheast longmeadow, ma1053075
ColinWashington, DC1055550
GregGreenback1056540
178SeanKILLINGWORTH1002575
PaulOakland1003565
RobertKilauea1003070
RyanSinking Spring1002575
EricYuba City1004555
RobertSt-Bruno1003070
JesseWestlake1003070
BreardCaen1005545
DerekINDIANAPOLIS1002575
KenSouth Lake Tahoe, Ca1003070
AndrewBuffalo1002575
189MickPenfield, NY USA954055
JimWayzata952075
EricSalt Lake City953065
NateZeeland952075
TonyNew York954550
194PeytonCalgary902565
RobertMATTOON901575
KeithBallater902565
matthewboiling springs903555
MatthewBuffalo906525
MarkHighwood902070
200DerrickGatineau855035
BryonWaukesha854045
202CHRISTOPHERRochester802060
RobertRichardson804535
BillLititz803050
JaredNew York804040
206Jacksonportland75075
PETERdenver755025
208StevenWest Sacramento704030
SeanChamplin701555
210GregW. Newfield651550
211FrankToronto602535
212DaveUrbandale55505
213TTakoma Park, MD50500
AlexOakmont502030
215RobertKearneysville45540
216MikeWindsor35305
217DionBrampton25025
218SayrdWinston-Salem15015
219JakeKansas city10100