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Belgian Joran Wyseure waited for one lap and then followed newly-crowned Junior Women world champ Zoe Backstedt’s script to be the first to attack the major climb and ride solo to claim the rainbow jersey at the 2022 Cyclocross World Championships.

While the first lap was filled with pack riding of 16 racers, including American Scott Funston, the fireworks went off halfway through the second lap.

U23 Men. 2022 Cyclocross World Championships, Fayetteville, Arkansas USA. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

U23 Men. 2022 Cyclocross World Championships, Fayetteville, Arkansas USA. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Second Lap Fireworks

Wyseure surprised himself to find himself near the front early on in the race.

“Normally my start is not very good but today it went quite well,” the Belgian said after the finish.

Wyseure took advantage of perfect Belgian team tactics and a bit of infighting among the Dutch to put in a massive attack on the second time up the major climb, and then went on to put in two blistering laps.

Joran Wyseure takes the U23 Men's title. 2022 Cyclocross World Championships, Fayetteville, Arkansas USA. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Joran Wyseure takes the U23 Men’s title. 2022 Cyclocross World Championships, Fayetteville, Arkansas USA. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

“On the second lap, I went full gas on the climb, I had a few meters, and I wanted to ride the whole race at my own tempo,” Wyseure said.

His own tempo left others gasping. With sub-seven-minute laps on the second and third turns around the track, Wyseure opened up a 14-second gap.

Dutch Frustrations

With the rainbow jersey riding away, Dutch stars Ryan Kamp and Mees Hendrikx gave chase, and shouted at teammate Pim Ronhaar to help out.

The Dutch lead the chase of Joran Wyseure. U23 Men. 2022 Cyclocross World Championships, Fayetteville, Arkansas USA. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

The Dutch lead the chase of Joran Wyseure. U23 Men. 2022 Cyclocross World Championships, Fayetteville, Arkansas USA. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

While the Dutch gave chase and then looked around, Belgians Thibau Nys and Emiel Verstrynge were content to ride interference and cover the Dutch attacks.

Ronhaar eventually made his way to the front, and took back seconds to Wyseure, but would fade just as Brit Cameron Mason put in a huge effort on lap three to join the chase group.

A Clean Sweep for Belgians?

With Wyseure’s lead looking secure, Verystrynge took flight, looking to make it a Belgian one-two. Could the Dutch prevent a clean sweep?

On the final lap, former U23 World Champ Kamp put in a selfless effort, attacking up the final climb with teammate Hendrikx on his wheel. Halfway up the climb, Kamp suddenly pulled off, just like a World Tour domestique, and nearly came to a standstill.

With just a few turns left, the question was could the Belgians make it a clean sweep of the podium? Nys had an easy day following wheels, and now had a chance for bronze.

U23 Men. 2022 Cyclocross World Championships, Fayetteville, Arkansas USA. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

U23 Men. 2022 Cyclocross World Championships, Fayetteville, Arkansas USA. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Hendrikx attacked on the final rise, but Nys looked unfazed. Heading into the final straight, Nys sat at the back of the three. Mason surged, but Nys easily sprinted for bronze, giving the Belgians all three medals.

The Belgians sweep the U23 Men's race. 2022 Cyclocross World Championships, Fayetteville, Arkansas USA. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

The Belgians sweep the U23 Men’s race. 2022 Cyclocross World Championships, Fayetteville, Arkansas USA. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

“It was enough for the win today. It’s not normal, I’m really happy with my performance,” Wyseure said of his win. “It’s really nice that we are three Belgians on the podium today. I’m really happy.”

The Belgians sweep the U23 Men's race. 2022 Cyclocross World Championships, Fayetteville, Arkansas USA. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

The Belgians sweep the U23 Men’s race. 2022 Cyclocross World Championships, Fayetteville, Arkansas USA. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

North Americans Represent

Scott Funston had a fast start, matching the favorites’ first lap efforts and coming through after one lap just at the back of the lead group. He dangled from the group on Lap Two, but held on to finish in the top 20.

Andrew Strohmeyer was in 21st, and Daxton Mock in 23rd.

See the full results below.

2022 Fayetteville UCI Cyclocross World Championships Results: U23 Men

PosBibNameNationYOBTimeGap
1.6WYSEURE JoranBelgium200149:21-
2.4VERSTRYNGE EmielBelgium200249:34+0:13
3.8NYS ThibauBelgium200249:54+0:33
4.3HENDRIKX MeesNetherlands200049:54+0:33
5.10MASON CameronUnited Kingdom200049:54+0:33
6.2KAMP RyanNetherlands200049:59+0:38
7.5VANDEPUTTE NielsBelgium200050:01+0:40
8.1RONHAAR PimNetherlands200150:36+1:15
9.9KUYPERS GerbenBelgium200050:53+1:32
10.7MICHELS JenteBelgium200350:58+1:37
11.18HUBY AntoineFrance200151:12+1:51
12.12LILLO DarioSwitzerland200251:16+1:55
13.21LEONE SamueleItaly200151:31+2:10
14.11BLACKMORE JosephUnited Kingdom200351:36+2:15
15.17DELBOVE JorisFrance200051:54+2:33
16.28INGUANZO MACHO GonzaloSpain200152:04+2:43
17.30FUNSTON ScottUnited States200052:05+2:44
18.19TONEATTI DavideItaly200152:06+2:45
19.13ROUILLER LorisSwitzerland200052:33+3:12
20.41DEL TORO ROMERO IsaacMexico200352:35+3:14
21.31STROHMEYER AndrewUnited States200252:42+3:21
22.25STRANSKY MatejCzech Republic200352:54+3:33
23.34MOCK DaxtonUnited States200153:07+3:46
24.29RODRIGUEZ NOVOA MiguelSpain200353:18+3:57
25.26FIALA MatyasCzech Republic200353:44+4:23
26.14SOMMER JanSwitzerland200053:53+4:32
27.15SOMMER LarsSwitzerland200253:53+4:32
28.33VAN KEMPEN JulesUnited States200253:54+4:33
29.32NOEL SamUnited States200054:00+4:39
30.48MAARD FilipSweden200354:19+4:58
31.16THOMAS TheoFrance200154:19+4:58
32.24DAHL GustavDenmark200054:28+5:07
33.40TOEMKE PascalGermany200054:35+5:14
34.44BRISEBOIS HugoCanada200354:52+5:31
35.43LELIVELD MattCanada200254:56+5:35
36.35SERVETAS TommyUnited States200255:02+5:41
37.42GARCIA TREJO Carlos AlfonsoMexico200355:11+5:50
38.47RAMSAY NoahCanada200255:34+6:13
39.46CLARK OwenCanada200356:19+6:58
40.38NOLAN SeanIreland, Republic of200156:45+7:24
41.39HARVEY DeanIreland, Republic of2003-3 LAP

See our full coverage of the 2022 Cyclocross World Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas here.