LAST WEEK

Saturday, November 4

With the majority of the world’s best cyclo-cross riders away in the Czech Republic at the European Championships, there was a chance for lesser-known riders to make their name at a race in Rijkevorsel. Held in rain, Belgian rider Hendrik Sweeck (ERA Real Estate-circus) soloed to victory. Behind him, British rider Ben Turner (Beobank-corendon) finished third and the highestplaced U23 rider.

Saturday, November 4

After continuing his dominance in Zarren last week, Mathieu Willemyns (ATOM 6-Alno Keukens Wakken) made it five wins in this year’s Flemish Cyclo-cross Cup. The Belgian triumphed at the latest round in Zelzatem more than 20 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger, Nick van de Kerckhove (Tarteletto-isorex).

Sunday, November 5

Ben Turner capped off a successful weekend in Belgium with a second-placed finish at the Hofstade-zemst race. With one lap remaining, Turner, eventual winner Gert Smets (ERA Real Estate-circus) and Pauwels Sauzen-vastgoedservice duo Jelle Camps and Florian Vermeersch all could have won, but Smets pulled away to win by 10 seconds from Turner.

Sunday, November 5

Stage seven winner Jacopo Mosca (Wilier-triestina-selle Italia) took his first ever general classification title at the Tour of Hainan. The Italian, however, wasn’t the only star of the race: his team-mate Jakub Mareckzo won five consecutive sprint stages and the points classification. Marco Zanotti (Monkey Town) and New Zealander Joseph Cooper (Isowhey Sports Swisswellness) also won a stage each.

Sunday, November 5

Carlos Torres won his national tour of Venezuela, 29 seconds ahead of Anderson Timoteo Paredes. After a third-placed finish on stage one, a repeat result on stage eight gave Torres the leader’s jersey and he managed to keep hold of it. There were nine different stage winners, with a two-time Venezuelan national champion winning stages two and 10.