January 30/22 12:37 pm - Ackert Makes Incredible Comeback to 8th in Junior Men CX

Posted by Editoress on 01/30/22
 

Canada put two riders in the top-12 on Sunday in the Junior men's race at the Cyclo-cross world championships, with Ian Ackert finishing eighth after an incredible ride back from crashing on the first lap, and Luke Valenti finishing 12th. Jan Christen of Switzerland won the title in a three-way sprint over Aaron Dockx (Bel) and Nathan Smith (GBr). Additional Canadian results were Alex Woodford in 27th, Theo de Groote in 29th and Sasha Renaud Tremblay in 33rd.

Ian Ackert

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The race was expected to be a battle between favourite David Haverdings, the lone Dutch rider, and the Belgian team of five riders. However, Christen showed his power early, taking the lead on the first lap with Haverdings. Haverdings then went down hard in a corner, taking the Swiss rider with him. While Haverdings was slow to get up and start riding, Christen immediately started chasing.

Dockx attacked out of the lead group on Lap 3, with Smith chasing solo, eventually joining him. A lap later Christen bridged across and the final lead group was set. Christen looked to be the strongest, leading much of the time, but didn't have the snap to drop the other two. Coming into the sprint it looked like Dockx had it before Christen made a final surge by him in the last 20 metres.

"The sprint was really hard," said Christen. "I was thinking that Aaron [Dockx] would be really strong in the sprint, so I was really focussed for the last lap. I tried all in and I won. It is really amazing to win; there was one goal this season and it was Worlds. I really wanted this."

Ackert looked to have a good start from the second row, but then crashed, falling to last place by the time he got a bike change in the pits. Valenti was riding a consistent race in the top-15 as part of the second chase group.

As the race went on and most riders started to slow, Ackert was getting faster - first getting into the top-30, then the top-20, and then joining Valenti in the top-15 on the penultimate fifth lap. He had the fastest second lap of the race and was consistently among the fastest in the other laps. His final lap was the fastest of the race; at 6:59 it was the only sub-7 minute lap. It propelled him into the top-10, and then past Haverdings to take eighth, only six seconds out of sixth.

Ackert is only a first year Junior, so his ride will certainly open eyes.

"I got crashed out after the start and was very disoriented," said Ackert. "I couldn't find my bike for a few seconds. The chain had dropped as well so I had to get that back on. For the rest of the race I just put my head down and fought my way back up to eighth, which I'm really happy with."

Luke Valenti

"On the first lap I was stuck behind a crash for a little bit," explained Valenti, "and I had to ride past a bunch people, but by the top of the climb I was top-15. On the second and third lap, I felt like I had nothing left at the top of the climb, so I'd rest for a bit before I could get going. But, I'm happy with my result."

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Results

Other Cyclocross Worlds reports

Rochette 7th as Vos Wins 8th World Title

Interview with Maghalie Rochette

Belgium Sweeps Under-23 Men's CX Worlds

Canada Gets 2 in Top-10 Junior Women at CX Worlds

Italy Wins Inaugural CX Team Relay, Canada 4th & 7th