Three-time cyclocross world champion Sanne Canto (Belgium) was at one point atop the discipline from 2017 to 2019. Since then, however, Dutch superstar Marianne Bos, who won six consecutive titles from 2009 to 2014, has reemerged to assert her dominance.

After finishing 10th behind the Dutch legend at the UCI Cyclocross World Championships in Fayetteville, Canto said Vos is still a rider she looks up to.

"I said whoever beats Vos will be world champion. I think I was right," the Belgian rider told Sporza.

Vos won her first title as an elite first-year in 2006, and Canto, three years her junior, said he always looked up to her.

"I really looked up to Marianne when I was younger. I still do. She was really my role model. So many people can only dream of so many world titles."

For Kant, the past few years have been like those of Vos, when the Belgian was at her most brilliant. It is impressive to see Vos strong again.

"The fact that she's still world class at 34 means that maybe there's hope for me yet," Kant laughed.

The course in Fayetteville had thawed out in previous races, but was dry and fast for the afternoon women's competition.

"It was a difficult race. I didn't get a good start," Canto told Cycling News. 'I spent the rest of the first lap trying to close the gap. I was able to do some of that, but I needed a lap to recover from that effort. It was tough."

She is no stranger to racing in the U.S., having competed in CrossVegas as well as the World Championships in Louisville in 2013.

"The course here was much faster. The ground was softer in that race, so it was slower going. Here it's quite different. It's a nice course, but it was really fast."

In contrast to some races in Europe, which were held without spectators due to the coronavirus outbreak, about 6,000 fans lined the course and cheered the riders from different countries. Kang said, "The atmosphere was great."

"It's always like that here. In every race in the US, people are genuinely happy that we are here. It's great. I don't really like the travel, the jet lag, the time difference, but I'm really enjoying it right now."