The Dublin World Cup is fast becoming one of my favorite stops of the year. Unlike some other races that have popped up in recent seasons, it does not feel “forced,” or gimmicky. It feels organic and it has a very solid cyclo-cross scene behind it. It certainly has helped that the racing has been good. And that the track has been muddy, which adds some drama to sections that might otherwise earn it the dreaded “grass crit” designation.
Leonie Bentveld was one of a number of riders who showed themselves off the front early. The Dutch U-23 rider finished 10th in the end. © Ethan Glading Ella Brenneman dismounts at the base of one of the short, steep berms. © Ethan Glading Katherine Sarkisov and Maria Larkin navigate a slippery corner. Larkin was a fan favorite for obvious reasons. © Ethan Glading Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado seemed to have good legs but a few crucial mistakes cost her in the end. © Ethan Glading Sara Casasola slipped back a bit in Dublin, to 9th place. The Italian rider has been dominating the Swiss CX Cyclocross Cup and recently podiumed at the European Championships. © Ethan Glading Some kindhearted fans hold umbrellas for Kaya Musgrave and Keira Bond. © Ethan Glading Emily Shields. The lone U.S. elite in the elite women ranks. © Ethan Glading Marie Schreiber went out a bit less aggro than usual. She rode a strong race and finished just off the podium in 4th. © Ethan Glading Sidney McGill rode the sand like a champ. © Ethan Glading Lucinda Brand runs the planks. Once she took control of the race, she refused to let Alvarado get level again. © Ethan Glading Brand takes her first win of the season. © Ethan Glading Maghalie Rochette after the finish. Rochette finished in a solid 7th place as she is seemingly (re-)adjusting to European racing. © Ethan Glading Thibau Nys leads the race on lap 1. Nys was affected by back problems in the race, forcing him to drop back. He ended up sprinting it out for 6th, an effort that earned a big smile from his famous father after the finish. © Ethan Glading The bunch hits the long, slippery descent. © Ethan Glading Niels Vandeputte got the hole shot, hung around the front, and was 9th in the end. © Ethan Glading Top American man Scott Funston nabbed a respectable 16th place. © Ethan Glading Michael Vanthourenhout. The Pauwels Sauzen Bingoal rider suffered a tough crash on Saturday in Kortrijk leading him to suggest he might have to pull the plug in Dublin. © Ethan Glading Laurens Sweeck was so close. An unfortunately timed flat tire dramatically affected his race once again. © Ethan Glading Jens Adams and Joran Wyseure had a brief moment off the front before being reeled in by the favorites. Adams ended up matching his best-ever World Cup finish with a 5th place. (he was also 5th in Pontchateau in 2019). © Ethan Glading Eli Iserbyt said in his pre-race interview that the travel to Ireland was less than ideal for his preparation. Despite being one of the few top riders to do the Kortrijk-Dublin double he still managed a podium spot. © Ethan Glading Cameron Mason heads into the bell lap. Mason seemed to struggle a bit in front of the home* crowd after a strong ride in Kortrijk on Saturday. (*Yes, I know Ireland is not in the UK, but there were many UK fans in attendance) © Ethan Glading The sprint. Pim Rronhaar seemed to open his sprint up early but he easily held off a spent Sweeck as the two came on to the tarmac finish. Sweeck laid the blame for his flat finish on his actual flat which forced him to chase and burn his last match. © Ethan Glading Pim Ronhaar takes it. That’s two World Cup victories in 2023 for the Dutchman. © Ethan Glading There’s no mistaking what Ryan Kamp has been up to for the last hour. © Ethan Glading