Tom Pidcock’s searing form shows no sign of abating as he added yet another Cyclo-Cross World Cup victory to his burgeoning collection of silverware.
Still only 19, Pidcock (TP Racing) notched up his fourth World Cup victory of the season in the Under-23 competition, winning Sunday’s race in France in 54:19.
Nearest rival Antoine Benoist gave the home fans something to cheer as he took second place, nine seconds behind the Brit, with Italian rider Jakob Dorigoni third in a time of 54:45.
Pidcock perfect once more
World Cup dans le sac @TP_Racing
— Tom Pidcock (@Tompid) January 20, 2019
: Olivia Nieto pic.twitter.com/iLA4KnokIF
Pidcock’s dominance in this season’s competition has really caught the eye, the 19-year-old sealed the overall win in the U23 classification at the 2019 UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup.
Since coming fourth in the opening round in Bern, Switzerland, in October, the Leeds athlete has registered triumphs in Tabor (Czech Republic), Koksijde and Namur (both Belgium) – and now Pont-Chateau.
This latest victory has landed him another 60 points, giving him an healthy overall lead atop the standings with just next weekend’s final round of action in the Netherlands to come.
Nearest challenger Eli Iserbyt finished fifth, with the Belgian’s 200 points 40 behind Pidcock at the summit.
Brammeier battles back
In the women’s elite competition, Nikki Brammeier (Mudiiita) crossed the line 21st in a packed field after having an unfortunate mechanical in lap two whilst in the lead group.
The newly crowned national champion racing in her new national champion jersey for the first time suffered a double puncture dropping a number of places in the process.
Brammeier battled back from near enough last and despite the energy sapping run back to the pits for a new bike finished only a minute out of the top-ten.
PontChateau you've never been kind to me A Double flat on the 2nd lap and having to get round 3/4 lap to pit put me out the race for any result. Near enough last, such a fast course to… https://t.co/eBMhn3EhTE
— Nikki Brammeier (@NikkiBrammeier) January 20, 2019
On a day the Dutch riders reigned supreme, Marianne Vos claimed her fourth success of the season, with the victory giving her a first career overall World Cup title as she moved onto 494 points overall – 132 clear of compatriot Annemarie Worst.
Fellow Dutch riders Denise Betsema and Maud Kaptheijns finished a respective second and third on the day, while Brammeier’s result leaves her 17th in the standings with 239 points.
