Dutchman Tibor del Grosso repeats as U23 CX world champion

Last season’s U23 cyclocross world champion Tibor del Grosso, having won the Dutch elite men’s title last month, defended his rainbow jersey Saturday in Liévin, France. Ian Ackert was top Canadian in 16th; he was sixth at the 2024 edition.

Ackert, Alexander Woodford and Maxime St-Onge made up the Canadian squad.

Del Grosso’s teammate Danny van Lierop seized the first lead on Lap 1. Del Grosso lurked in Position 2. Ackert, who started in the middle of grid, started clawing his way through the pack. Del Grosso powered to the front and then took his leave. Frenchman Leo Bisiaux was the closest chaser. Ackert fought his way into the top 10. Bisiaux and Belgian Jente Michels were 27 seconds back by the line. Ackert was 13th, St-Onge 37th and Woodford 45th.

Bisiaux disappeared from the picture on Lap 2, Jules Simon replacing him as top Frenchman and Stefano Viezzi of Italy prominent in Position 2. Ackert was ninth after two circuits.

Del Grosso continued his solo raid on Lap 3 of 7. Simon, Viezzi, Michels and Kay De Bruyckere battled for the medals. Ackert moved up one spot into eighth. Viezzi and Michels dumped the others on Lap 4. Viezzi fell on the stairs but carried on with a wince. Ackert headed into the fifth lap in 13th place. St-Onge was 31st.

Viezzi began to lose ground on Lap 5, De Bruyckere reeling him in. Ackert toiled to get back in the top-10. On the penultimate lap, Viezzi’s difficulties continued as another close encounter with a step unfastened his shoe. De Bruyckere left him behind, and after Michels laid it down in a muddy section, the two Belgians heard the bell together. Ackert was 14th.

Del Grosso tailwhipped his way around the final lap and held up his jersey number 1 when he crossed the line . De Bruyckere slipped past his compatriot for the silver. Michels was also third last year.

2025 UCI Cyclocross World Championships, U23 Men
Gold) Tibor del Grosso (The Netherlands) 56:26
Silver) Kay De Bruyckere (Belgium) +0:56
Bronze) Jente Michels (Belgium) +1:05
16) Ian Ackert (Canada) +3:35
27) Maxime St-Onge (Canada)
43) Alexander Woodford (Canada)