British women occupied two of three podium places at the second round of the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup in Plzen.

Seven-time British champion, Helen Wyman (Kona Factory), was second behind American, Katie Compton (Trek), while Nikki Harris (Young Telenet-Fidea) won a sprint for third place.

Ninth place for Gabby Day (Rapha-FOCUS) made it three British women in the top 10.

Compton now leads the World Cup having added victory to the second place she scored behind Sanne Van Passen (Rabobank) last week in Tabor.

Van Passen could only manage fourth in Tabor, despite riding with Wyman and Harris in an early lead group that distanced Compton.

The American clawed her way back to the leaders on lap two, and by lap three rode with Wyman at the head of the field, before Compton breaking clear of the British champion, who battled on alone to finish 15 seconds behind the American.

Harris outsprinted Van Passen for the final spot on the podium, while Day finished at 1.49, just behind the French rider, Lucie Chainel-Lefevre (BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry).

In the men’s race, world champion, Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus), delivered a commanding performance to win by more than half a minute from Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Revor).

Defending champion, Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Revor), who last week won the opening round in Tabor, was third, nine seconds behind his teammate.

Pauwels crossed the line fourth, but was promoted to third after Rob Peeters (Telenet-Fidea) was disqualified for a pit stop infringement.

Albert said: “I’ve won here as a world champion in 2009 and now I win again in this jersey. The corners were really dangerous because you can make a mistake everywhere. You have to pay a lot of attention and use your technique.”

Albert was the first of seven Belgian riders to fill the first seven places. He dropped all of his countrymen but Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet-Euphony), and distanced the YEAR world champion when Nys crashed heavily on lap three.

British champion, Ian Field, finished thirty-fifth.

UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup round two – men – result

1) Niels Albert (BEL) – BKCP-Powerplus – 1.08.26
2) Klaas Vantornout (BEL) – Sunweb-Revor +36”
3) Kevin Pauwels (BEL) – Sunweb-Revor +45”
4) Tom Meeusen (BEL) – Telenet-Fidea +54”
5) Bart Wellens (BEL) – Telenet-Fidea +1.09
6) Sven Nys (BEL) – Landbouwkrediet-KDL +1.31
7) Bart Aernouts (BEL) – AA Drink +2.14
8) Francis Mourey (FRA) – FDJ-BigMat +2.45
9) Thijs van Amerongen (NED) – AA Drink +2.58
10) Julien Taramarcaz (SWI) – BMC +3.04

UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup Round Two – women – result

1) Katie Compton (USA) – Trek – 41.18
2) Helen Wyman (GBR) – Kona +15”
3) Nikki Harris (GBR) –  Young Telenet-Fidea +29”
4) Sanne van Paassen (NED) – Rabobank +30”
5) Hanka Kupfernagel (GER) – RusVelo +32”
6) Jasmin Achermann (SWI) – Rapha-Focus +1.00
7) Sanne Cant (BEL) – Veldritacademie Enertherm – BKCP +1.27
8) Lucie Chainel-Lefevre (FRA) – BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry +1.49
9) Gabriella Day (GBR) – Rapha-Focus
10) Pavla Havlikova (CZE) – Young Telenet-Fidea +2.20