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The men’s final race of the state-side UCI Cyclocross World Cup marathon took place under beautiful clear, warm, sunny skies at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. Without any precipitation in the recent days, the course was running as fast as ever, Mt. Krumpit was getting dusty and loose, and the corners on the switchback descent fast and tacky.

Taking to the course before the women today, the men rushed through the start like a tidal wave with Quinten Hermans leading the fast-moving pack into the holeshot. Once through the rutted off-camber before Pit 1, the strung-out group was riding mostly single file to the base of Mt. Krumpit.

Those who had the ability, strength, speed and fitness to get and stay near the front placed themselves in an ideal position for the ride up the front side of Mt. Krumpit.

(For those not at the front, it feels like a traffic jam of people and you’re forced off your bike to run up the steep hill with bikes and wheels in your face as you try to make passes up the climb. Ask me how I know!)

Based on Eli Iserbyt’s position in the pack heading down the face of Mt. Krumpit, one wouldn’t have guessed today would be his day. Sitting many positions back on the first lap, it seemed that today was an off day for the UCI Cyclocross World Cup leader.

Turns out racers always have a plan, and Iserbyt shared his. “I was always around my FTP and I really saved a lot of energy for the last couple of laps because it was really hot and I knew if you go once over your max heart rate then you will blow up,” he explained. “The last few laps were really, really hard. The plan was to sit in early. I knew it from two years ago, I rode away from Toon in the last couple of laps so I had the same tactic as then.”

The plan was to sit in early. I knew it from two years ago, I rode away from Toon in the last couple of laps so I had the same tactic as then. -Eli Iserbyt

Heading into Lap 2 a group of 8-ish started to form. By the end of the lap, Iserbyt was sitting fourth wheel. As the large group started to splinter, the front group of four formed, containing Quinten Hermans, Iserbyt, Lars van der Haar and Michael Vanthourenhout.

Dangling behind the lead four was Toon Aerts and Jens Adams, as they were looking to connect to the front, but just could not get there. From there it splintered into individual riders chasing the top ten, and then a large group of Europeans and a handful of North Americans, including Gage Hecht, Curtis White, Kerry Werner and Michael van dem Ham, followed, racing towards top-20 positions.

Gage Hecht climbed in to the top 20. 2021 UCI Iowa City Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Gage Hecht climbed in to the top 20. 2021 UCI Iowa City Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Halfway through the 10-lap race, it seemed that no one in the front group wanted to do any work, as Van der Haar, who was on the front, looked around and eased his pace. Everyone else seemed content to slow up, allowing Aerts to latch onto the back of the group, while Adams was dangling a few seconds back.

On the long backside of the climb up Mt. Krumpit, Iserbyt and Hermans put in an effort, looking to put a little space between themselves and the other three, perhaps testing their legs for future attacks. Aerts, while certainly happy to catch the group, looked like he was struggling to stay with Van der Haar and Vanthourenhout on the longer backside of the climb.

It was a continuous game of cat and mouse for the leaders of the race, as Hermans and Iserbyt put in small digs, forcing Van der Haar, Vanthourenhout, and Aerts to chase and catch back on.

Hermans led Iserbyt down Mt. Krumpit. 2021 UCI Iowa City Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Hermans led Iserbyt down Mt. Krumpit. 2021 UCI Iowa City Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

I always say to win a bike race, you have to stay on your bike, and when the bike race is a close one, you really need to stay on your bike.

Unfortunately for Hermans, a mistake bunnyhopping the barriers had him off the bike, watching the leaders ride away. Going over the first barrier his rear wheel bumped the barrier, causing him to hit the second barrier and nearly endo. Somehow, he safely walked out of it, because pros crash like pros too. When asked what happened Hermans could only exclaim, “Well, I missed the first one (laughs), F*#%!”

Hermans leaves another U.S. World Cup wondering what could have been without a critical mistake. 2021 UCI Iowa City Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Hermans leaves another U.S. World Cup wondering what could have been without a critical mistake. 2021 UCI Iowa City Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

As he was bent over trying to get his dropped chain back on his bike, Van der Haar, Vanthourenhout, Aerts and Adams passed him.

Lars van der Haar was aggressive at the front. 2021 UCI Iowa City Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Lars van der Haar was aggressive at the front. 2021 UCI Iowa City Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

With 2.5 laps to go, Iserbyt had enough cat and mouse and let the fireworks begin. Attacking after Mt. Krumpit, Iserbyt did what he’s done the last two World Cups and focused on the race ahead, instead of what was going on behind him.

Van der Haar chased roughly five seconds behind and Aerts and Vanthourenhout fought for the final podium spot.

On the final lap, Iserbyt stretched his lead and sailed to victory for his second World Cup win this season.

2021 UCI Iowa City Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

The leaders scale Mt. Krumpit. 2021 UCI Iowa City Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

“It was a very hard race, a very hot race. A lot of riders were in really good shape today and it was really hard to get away from Lars in the end,” he said after his win. “I feel very good [about my position in the World Cup right now]. I’m in good shape and I have to be and get a lot of points early on for the series because in December I always have a little dip. I hope to manage it this year. I feel good for the next couple of races. You have to manage with the jet lag again in Belgium. There will be very fast another double race so resting is very important.”

Just as he did in Waterloo, Eli Iserbyt successfully defended his 2019 Cyclocross World Cup title in Iowa City with climbing supremacy.

2021 UCI Iowa City Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Iserbyt takes his second World Cup in 8 days. 2021 UCI Iowa City Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Van Der Haar held onto second place, even if a bit disappointed:

“I’m a little disappointed that I couldn’t close that gap,” said Van der Haar. “I knew his attack was going to come in that lap, so I tried to stay with Eli when he made the gap, then I took a little bit to try to get a little bit of rest myself, and then I really went for it on Mt. Krumpit, and I was almost there, but he did a better downhill, because I was just really tired. I tried again on the second Krumpit, but I couldn’t. I knew on the last lap that it was only possible if he made a mistake, and he didn’t, but I am happy I could redeem myself after Wednesday.”

2021 UCI Iowa City Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Van der Haar was both aggressive early and a loyal teammate to Toon Aerts. 2021 UCI Iowa City Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Vanthourenhout dropped Aerts on the final climb up Mt Krumpit to claim the final podium position.

This wraps up the U.S. World Cup coverage as the Europeans will head back across the pond to continue their season before making one more trip back to the U.S. for World Championships in Fayetteville 2022.

Full results below.

See the Elite Women’s report and results from the 2021 Jingle Cross Cyclocross World Cup in Iowa City.

View brief highlights of the race:

Hear Iserbyt talk about his win, getting aero and avoiding his dreaded December Dip in our interview:

Hear Lars discuss his chase of Iserbyt and season’s plans:

Our 2021 UCI Cyclocross World Cup coverage is brought to you by Bike Rags Apparel with additional support from BikeIowa.

2021 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Iowa City Results: Elite Men

PosNrName / UCI Cyclocross TeamNATTimeGap
1.7ISERBYT Eli
PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL
BEL59:10-
2.2VAN DER HAAR Lars
BALOISE TREK LIONS
NED59:21+0:11
3.9VANTHOURENHOUT Michael
PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL
BEL59:41+0:31
4.8AERTS Toon
BALOISE TREK LIONS
BEL59:52+0:42
5.10HERMANS Quinten
TORMANS - CIRCUS CYCLO CROSS TEAM
BEL1:00:03+0:53
6.18ADAMS JensBEL1:00:11+1:01
7.12SOETE Daan
CX TEAM DESCHACHT-GROUP HENS-CONTAINERS MAES
BEL1:00:28+1:18
8.4KAMP Ryan
PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL
NED1:00:49+1:39
9.15FERDINANDE Anton
PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL
BEL1:01:01+1:51
10.11BAESTAENS Vincent
CX TEAM DESCHACHT-GROUP HENS-CONTAINERS MAES
BEL1:01:02+1:52
11.19KUHN Kevin
TORMANS - CIRCUS CYCLO CROSS TEAM
SUI1:01:11+2:01
12.14VANDEBOSCH Toon
PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL
BEL1:01:19+2:09
13.39MEISEN Marcel
ALPECIN - FENIX
GER1:01:22+2:12
14.17AERTS Thijs
BALOISE TREK LIONS
BEL1:01:26+2:16
15.25HECHT Gage
AEVOLO
USA1:01:28+2:18
16.26WHITE Curtis
CANNONDALE/CYCLOCROSSWORLD
USA1:01:31+2:21
17.16VERSTRYNGE Emiel
TORMANS - CIRCUS CYCLO CROSS TEAM
BEL1:01:35+2:25
18.41VAN DEN HAM MichaelCAN1:01:36+2:26
19.24WERNER KerryUSA1:01:41+2:31
20.5VAN KESSEL Corne
TORMANS - CIRCUS CYCLO CROSS TEAM
NED1:02:14+3:04
21.13VANDEPUTTE Niels
ALPECIN - FENIX
BEL1:02:40+3:30
22.30BRUNNER Eric
AEVOLO
USA1:02:53+3:43
23.23MEIN Thomas
TORMANS - CIRCUS CYCLO CROSS TEAM
GBR1:03:02+3:52
24.6VAN DER MEER GosseNED1:03:23+4:13
25.28HAIDET Lance
L39ION OF LOS ANGELES
USA1:03:23+4:13
26.31DILLMAN AndrewUSA1:03:49+4:39
27.21TONEATTI DavideITA1:03:53+4:43
28.22MASCIARELLI Lorenzo
PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL
ITA1:03:54+4:44
29.34FIX BrannanUSA1:04:42+5:32
30.3RONHAAR Pim
BALOISE TREK LIONS
NED1:05:02+5:52
31.29MCGILL Scott
AEVOLO
USA-2 LAP
32.35FREDERICK BenUSA-2 LAP
33.42SANDERSON BrodyCAN-2 LAP
34.33SWARTZ CalebUSA-2 LAP
35.36NOEL SamUSA-3 LAP
36.44LELIVELD MattCAN-3 LAP
37.37SERVETAS TommyUSA-4 LAP
38.45BRISEBOIS HugoCAN-4 LAP
39.43RODGERS LiefCAN-4 LAP
40.20OPPIZZI MatteoSUI-5 LAP
41.32STROHMEYER AndrewUSA-5 LAP
42.40MAYER YannickGER-6 LAP
43.46NYSTROM SPENCER Felipe TimoteoCRC-6 LAP
27HYDE StephenUSADNF