Tom Meeusen (Telenet-Fidea) claimed the win at yesterday’s third World Cup in Belgium’s Zolder ahead of Italian Elia Silvestri and former junior World Champion Tijmen Eising, adding yet another victory to his palmares.
Meeusen soloed in for the win pulling away from Silvestri and Eising on the fifth of nine laps. The Belgian’s rivals failed to match his tempo as he smashed away on a big gear leaving them behind.
The 21-year-old took over the lead in the UCI World Cup standings from Slovakia’s Robert Gavanda with a total of 140 points, 25 and 40 points ahead of Gavenda and France’s Arnaud Jouffroy, respectively.
In the Superprestige standings Meeusen’s name can also be found at the top, above compatriot Jim Aernouts and Dutchman Micki van Empel.
The young Belgian has dominated the under-23 cyclo-cross scene with eight victories this season. Meussen turned heads last week when he placed second in the elite race at Scheldercross Antwerpen behind Sven Nys and in front of stars like Zdenk Stybar, Kevin Pauwels, and World Champion Niels Albert.
Americans Daniel Summerhill and Zach McDonald finished 25th and 39th respectively.
The final round of the World Cup will take place in Roubaix, France, on January 17.
World Cup standings (after 3 rounds)
1. Tom Meeusen (Bel) 140 points
2. Robert Gavenda (Slo) 115
3. Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra) 100
4. Cristian Cominelli (Ita) 96
5. Tijmen Eising (Ned) 87
6. Jim Aernouts (Bel) 79
7. Pawel Szczepaniak (Pol) 74
8. Micki van Empel (Ned) 74
9. Matthieu Boulo (Fra) 63
10. Lubomir Petrus (Cze) 58
11. Vincent Baestaens (Bel) 58
12. Marek Konwa (Pol) 58
13. Joeri Adams (Bel) 58
14. Jiri Polnicky (Cze) 51
15. Sascha Weber (Ger) 51