Helen Wyman started her 2016 Telenet UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup season as she meant to go on; with a fantastic ninth place finish in the elite women’s race.
A delighted Ian Field picked up 11th place in the elite men’s race, after finishing in 24th place in the opening round, CrossVegas, earlier in the week.
Wow!11th at Iowa World Cup, unbelievable scenes! Proper cross course with cross conditions(sort of) that was fun!!! Proud
— Ian Field (@FieldyCX) September 24, 2016
Fellow British rider Amira Mellor, 19, finished in 25th place in the women’s event, in a world-class field.
Jingle Cross Iowa City took place three days after CrossVegas and the best cyclo-cross riders in the world gathered to do battle on the second North American leg of the series.
The tough course involved the steep climb up Mount Krumpit and the Holly Jolly Hell Hole swamp mud pit but it was the unexpected addition of rain that turned the event into a true mud-churned classic.
When the mud is so thick you have to stand up before raising your arms. Loved @JingleCross tonight. pic.twitter.com/q8UJKYfLfc
— Helen Wyman (@CXHelen) September 24, 2016
The men’s race was won by world champion and CrossVegas victor, Wout van Aert who took his second victory of the series despite starting the race with a broken toe and suffering an early mechanical.
It was the Belgians who once again swept up the top five spots, with van Aert’s countrymen Laurens Sweeck and Kevin Pauwels finishing in second and third respectively.
The USA’s Katie Compton won the women’s contest, recording her second podium finish of the two races so far and moving to the top of the overall leader-board.
France’s Carline Mani finished second and USA’s Kaitlin Antonneau was third, with CrossVegas’ silver medallist, Katerina Nash, just out of the podium positions in fourth place.
