Meanwhile in Europe, it's cyclocross season!

First round of the 2014/15 Cyclocross World Cup, first success for Northwave's Michael Vanthourenhout (Sunweb-Napoleon Games). On Sunday October 19th, in Valkenburg (Netherlands), the Belgian youngster equipped with Extreme Tech MTB Plus shoes clinched an impressive victory in the Under23 race, preceding on the finishing line reigning Under 23 World Champion Wout Van Aert, and French Fabien Doubey.

Vanthourenhout routed every rival on the day, including Dutch prospect Mathieu Van der Poel, sixth on the finish line behind another Northwave's athlete, Gioele Bertolini (Selle Italia-Guerciotti).

The Under 23 European Championships took the third seasonal success, after landing the spoils in Bpost Bank Trofee's opening stage and Kermiscross.

Another Northwave's athlete, Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb) claimed a fourth place in the Elite race dominated by Lars Van der Haar (Team Giant-Shimano). The Belgian rider was in the run for second for long, but was overtaken in the last lap by teammate fellow Belgian Kevin Pauwels and Telenet's Corné Van Kessel, second and third on the finish line respectively.

In the Junior race won by Belgian Eli Iserbyt ahead of Max Gulickx (Netherlands) and Jacob Jacobs (Switzerland), Northwave's athlete Stefano Sala and his Extreme Tech MTB Plus placed sixth 2:18 behind the day's winner.