Van der Haar and Compton win cyclocross World Cup series titles

The cyclocross World Cup series concluded with the seventh round held on Sunday in Nommay, France where American Katie Compton (Trek Cyclocross Collective) and Holland’s Lars van der Haar (Rabobank Development Team) won the overall titles in the elite categories.

The elite men’s final race finished in a three-man sprint where Belgium’s Tom Meeusen (Telenet-Fidea) took the top spot on the podium ahead of France’s Francis Mourey (FDJ.fr) and Germany’s Philipp Walsleben (BKCP-Powerplus). Canada’s Aaron Schooler (H&R Block) rode in with 54th place.

Van der Haar won the overall World Cup series title with a total of 467 points.

Holland’s Marianne Vos (Rabo Liv Women’s Cycling Team), the current world champion, rode into a solo victory during the elite women’s race, 1:32 minutes ahead of Great Britain’s Helen Wyman (Kona Factory Racing) and 1:46 minutes ahead of Italy’s Eva Lechner (Centro Sportivo Esercito).

Compton won the overall World Cup series with 350 points. She started the final round but did not finish the race because of asthma triggered by allergies.

In the under-23 men’s race, Belgium’s Wout Van Aert soloed to the win ahead of Holland’s Mathieu Van Der Poel and fellow countryman Michael Vanthourenhout. Canada’s Michael Van Den Ham was 41st and Connor Wilson 46th place on the day.

Van Der Poel wrapped up the World Cup series with the overall win with 385 points.

Belgium’s Thijs Aerts won the junior men’s race ahead of Adam Toupalik from the Czech Republic and Yannick Peeters, also from Belgium. There were three Canadians in the race that included Willem Boersma in 38th, Mason Burtnik in 45th and Sean Germaine in 49th place.

Toupalik secured the World Cup series title with 326 points.

The cyclocross world championships will be held on Feb. 1 and 2 in Hoogerheide, Netherlands.