National Cyclocross Championships took place over the weekend throughout most of the world. Even Japan, which used to share a December date with the U.S., has moved to January. And nearly all of them faced incredibly muddy conditions that had racers on foot for much of the race. See who took the coveted jerseys in the round-up and highlights below.
2023 French National Championships Bagnoles de l’Orne Elite Women
Hélene Clauzel (As Bike Racing) took first, holding off a surging Line Burquier, who turned a 13-second gap on the last lap into nearly a photo finish.
Perrine Clauzel (As Bike Racing) came in third.
Enjoy over nine minutes of highlights and last-lap footage provided by All Cycling.
2023 French National Championships Bagnoles de l’Orne Elite Men
Clément Venturini finished first after a thrilling last-lap duel.
Fabien Doubey was the runner up.
Joshua Dubau podiumed.
Enjoy over eight minutes of last-lap footage provided by All Cycling.
2023 German National Championships Cyclocross München Elite Women
Judith Krahl (Heizomat Radteam P/B Kloster Kitchen) took first place.
Lisa Heckmann came in second place.
Stefanie Paul finished third.
2023 German National Championships Cyclocross München Elite Men
Sascha Weber came in first place.
Marcel Meisen finished second.
Michael Gassner podiumed.
2023 Belgian National Championships Lokeren Elite Women
Guess who? Sanne Cant (Crelan – Fristads) reigned supreme once again, to hold onto the tricolore jersey, her 14th title in a row!
Marion Norbert Riberolle (Crelan – Fristads) came in second behind her teammate.
Alicia Franck secured third place.
Enjoy over six minutes of last-lap footage provided by All Cycling.
2023 Belgian National Championships Lokeren Elite Men
Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal) finished first after an intense battle with former teammate Laurens Sweeck (Crelan – Fristads).
The duel had a controversy, due to a bike tangle in the pits.
Laurens Sweeck’s bike tangles with Vanthourenhout’s outgoing bike in the pits at the 2023 Belgian Cyclocross National Championships
Thibau Nys (Baloise Trek Lions) followed in third place.
Enjoy over eight minutes of last-lap footage provided by All Cycling.
2023 Dutch National Championships Zaltbommel Elite Women
Puck Pieterse (Alpecin – Deceuninck) got first place in a thrilling three-woman battle. Pieterse led early, was brought back, and then surged again for good.
Teammate Carmen Alvarado Ceylin Del (Alpecin – Deceuninck) was the runner-up.
Fem van Empel podiumed.
Enjoy over eight minutes of last-lap footage provided by All Cycling.
2023 Dutch National Championships Zaltbommel Elite Men
Lars van der Haar (Baloise Trek Lions) came in first place to defend his jersey. The defending champ was patient, in a wheel-sucking way, sitting on teammate Joris Nieuwenhuis until the final lap.
Joris Nieuwenhuis (Baloise Trek Lions) got second place, but didn’t seem happy for himself or his teammate, and pounded the bars when crossing the line.
Ryan Kamp (Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal) finished in third place.
Enjoy over eight minutes of last-lap footage provided by All Cycling.
2023 Swiss National Championships Cyclocross Mettmenstetten Elite Women
Alessandra Keller came in first.
Rebekka Estermann was the runner-up.
Zina Barhoumi came in third.
2023 Swiss National Championships Cyclocross Mettmenstetten Elite Men
Timon Rüegg (Cross Team Legendre) finished in first place.
Lars Forster came in second.
Kevin Kuhn (Tormans Cyclo Cross Team) podiumed.
2023 Italian National Championships Cyclocross Roma Elite Women
Silvia Persico got first place.
Rebecca Gariboldi finished second.
Francesca Baroni (Pissei – Groep T.O.M.) came in third.
2023 Italian National Championships Cyclocross Roma Elite Men
Filippo Fontana took first.
Davide Toneatti was the runner-up.
Jakob Dorigoni came in third.
2023 Spanish National Championships Cyclocross Vic Elite Women
Lucia Gonzalez Blanco (Nesta – Mmr Cx Team) came in first place.
Sofia Rodriguez Revert (Nesta – Mmr Cx Team) got second place.
Alba Teruel Ribes finished in third.
2023 Spanish National Championships Cyclocross Vic Elite Men
Felipe Orts Lloret finished in first place, defending his jersey and continuing his impressive season.
Jorda Cullell Estape came in second place.
Kevin Suarez Fernandez (Nesta – Mmr Cx Team) podiumed.
2023 Japanese Cyclocross National Championships Elite Women
Sae Ogawa claimed the national championship, with Akari Kobayashi finishing in second and claiming the U23 title.
Kobayashi wasn’t pleased with her place, however.
Yui Ishida took bronze.
2023 Japanese Cyclocross National Championships Elite Men
Hijiri Oda took the title, in his second year as an Elite. Oda is a multi-discipline racer and also competes in BMX and road.
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3度目の正直https://t.co/YM3DTLrBtNたくさんの応援ありがとうございました。
— 織田 聖 Hijiri Oda (@hijirioda) January 16, 2023
Oda won by nearly a minute over Toki Sawada and Yu Takenouchi, a racer who has competed in Europe.
2023 Danish National Championships Cyclocross Ballerup Elite Women
Caroline Bohé came in first place.
Ann-Dorthe Lisbygd finished in second.
Anna-Sofie Nørgaard placed third.
2023 Danish National Championships Cyclocross Ballerup Elite Men
Sebastian Carstensen Fini claimed the championship.
Gustav Wang finished in second place.
Tobias Lillelund came in third place.
2023 Luxembourg National Championships Cyclocross Mamer Elite Women
Marie Schreiber (Tormans Cyclo Cross Team) got first.
Isabelle Klein came in second.
2023 Luxembourg National Championships Cyclocross Mamer Elite Men
Raphaël Kockelmann came in first.
Ken Conter took second.
Cédric Pries podiumed.
2023 British National Championships Cyclocross Westmorland Elite Women
Zoe Backstedt came in first with a dominant ride, putting minutes into her competitors. It was a sweet revenge for Backstedt, after missing last year’s race due to a positive COVID-19 test.
Annie Last finished second.
Ella Maclean-Howell got third.
Enjoy over seven minutes of highlights and last-lap footage provided by All Cycling.
2023 British National Championships Cyclocross Westmorland Elite Men
Cameron Mason (Trinity Racing Cross) finished first. Mason overcame a slow start to pull back the leaders. Mason raced a patient race, citing lessons learned from finishing second last year and attacking the course too early.
Joseph Blackmore was runner-up.
Defending champ Thomas Mein (Hope Factory Racing) got third.
Enjoy over eight minutes of highlights and last-lap footage provided by All Cycling.