Thrills and spills at Cyclo-cross World Cup in Dublin

Belgium's Michael Vanthourenhout and Dutch cyclist Lucinda Brand took the senior individual glory in the third renewal of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Dublin.

Over 180 athletes from 16 nations arrived on the Sport Ireland Campus for the second round of the 2024 series.

Where Irish weather is often seen as a deterrent for some sports, cyclo-cross fans and riders look forward to challenging muddy conditions. The purpose built 3,500m course included various technical elements and obstacles such as the sand pit and boards which riders had to negotiate.

In the elite women's race, which included the Under-23 category, over 50 riders took to the course, including reigning World Champion Fem Van Empel. Van Empel faced tough competition, with five national champions, including last year’s Dublin winner Brand included in the field.

Brand looked in control from the outset and ultimately came home 24 seconds ahead of Van Empel who had to settle for second.

Also picking up the same position as she did in 2023, Zoe Backstedt completed the podium for Great Britain.

Esther Wong made her debut for Ireland and finished as the highest-placed Irish rider in fourth.

She said: "Feeling really good, it was a really good atmosphere and really fun racing in the green jersey for the first time in front of the Irish crowd, I felt really supported."

Fans were treated to a fast and furious display in the elite men's race.

A crash at the boards on the first lap took out several of the favourites.

The Belgian contingent of Toon Aerts, Vanthourenhout, Eli Iserbyt and Joran Wyseure kept the pressure on last year’s winner Pim Ronhaar for the Netherlands and Felipe Orts Lloret for Spain.

As riders made their way around the eighth and final lap, Lars Van Der Haar