José Antonio Hermida may be used to getting his own way on a mountain bike – but the Spaniard had to settle for 22nd in the fourth round of the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup in Igorre.

Kevin Pauwels claimed his second World Cup victory of the season, while ahead of Sven Nys and Tom Meeusen complete a Belgian one-two-three, with 2010 cross country world champion Hermida three minutes, 18 seconds adrift.

Cyclo-cross races typically last around an hour and are held on technical 2.5-3.5km circuits, with riders often having to carry and run with their bikes over some sections.

“I had a good start and I managed to finish the first lap around the 15th spot,” said Hermida after finishing his third cyclo-cross race of the season. “There has been a bit of chaos in a corner and there I lost some positions, but it has not been that critical.

“[I felt] very comfortable throughout the race, but I need to improve my technique. I had a small crisis on lap number five, paying [for] the effort of the first few minutes, but I’m very happy with how reliable I have felt all throughthe race.

“To finish three minutes back from the winner in a World Cup with just two races in my legs is a success.”

What’s cyclo-cross all about? We dish the dirt here.