Felipe Orts, the competitive cyclist from Spain, finished in tenth place at the Cyclocross World Championships held this Sunday in Tabor, Czech Republic. It marked his best-ever result at the sport’s premier global event, a milestone that highlights his continued progress and consistency at the highest level.
Felipe Orts: “I never imagined I could become a six-time Spanish champion”
JA Galvan
Orts started strong and stayed within the top 11 for most of the race, spending much of the contest in the lead pack that battled for seventh place. The decisive final lap sealed the margins, elevating the Spaniard to tenth place. The field was dominated by riders from Belgium and the Netherlands, with Orts and the Czech competitor Boros edging into the “Top 15” together as the race drew to a close.
#Tabor2024 | @felipeorts15, the athlete who achieved his best result at the World Championship, shared his reflections immediately after crossing the finish line
“I am very happy and proud of the career I have built.”
Congratulations, Felipe! #TeamESPcycling
— Royal Spanish Cycling Federation
Orts reflected on his journey, explaining that he had been aiming for the top 10 for years but had not managed to reach it until now. He noted that the overall goal was to be competitive at the highest level and that the result, while not perfect, represented a meaningful achievement to close the season. The rider from Alicante expressed gratitude for the chance to race at this level and highlighted the challenging nature of the course as a key factor in the race’s outcome.
Traitor Felipe Orts makes history in Belgium
JA Galvan
Orts has competed seven times in the Elite category of the cyclocross world championship. His performances have varied over the years: 2018 saw a 20th-place finish in the Netherlands, 2019 brought 12th in Denmark, 2020 marked 14th in Switzerland, 2021 placed him 26th in Belgium, 2022 had him finish 12th in the United States, 2023 saw 19th in the Netherlands, and 2024 delivered 10th in the Czech Republic. He also earned a silver medal in the under-23 category at a Luxembourg event in 2017, an event in which a Dutch competitor, Joris Nieuwenhuis, defeated him that Sunday.
Van der Poel is unbeatable
The Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel claimed his sixth world title in cyclocross, repeating as champion for the second year in a row. He finished ahead of his compatriot Joris Nieuwenhuis and Belgian Michael Vanthourenhout, continuing an era of dominance in the discipline.
Van der Poel’s latest triumph adds to the collection of world titles he has secured in 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024. The pursuit of additional milestones continues as the sport honors its most successful competitors, with great expectations for the next world championships set to unfold in the coming seasons. The event at Tabor came with the absence of certain top names, shaping the race and its outcomes as fans watched the Dutch rider execute a clear plan from early in the course to the finish.
The road to this title-worthy performance underscores Van der Poel’s status as a favorite and his ability to surge ahead on a demanding circuit. He extended his lead early and sustained it without surrendering control, showcasing the athletic finesse that has defined his career and inspired a generation of riders across Canada and the United States who follow the sport closely.