This weekend, racers in Europe and North and South America converged for Continental Championship racing. In Italy, Puck Pieterse from The Netherlands took the Junior Women's title while Thibau Nys (yes, son of legendary racer Sven Nys) took the Junior Men's race. In the U23 fields, Frenchman Mickaël Crispin and Belgian Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado took the titles. And in the elite men's race, no one was surprised to see Mathieu Van der Poel of The Netherlands defend his title for a third year, while Dutch racer Yara Kastelijn was the winner in the women's field. 

Scroll through to see images of the 2019 European Cyclocross Championships from Cyclephoto's Balint Hamvas.

Puck Pieterse on her way to the junior women's win.

Pieterse celebrating at the finish.

Course conditions were muddy, slick and extremely challenging.

The Italian crowd was thrilled to cheer for their countrymen.

Thibault Nys proves he's truly taking after father Sven Nys with a Junior Men's title.

Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado powers through the course solo in the women's U23 race.

After a disappointing showing at Worlds last February, this U23 win was a celebration for Alvarado.

 Mickaël Crispin cruising to victory in the U23 men's race.

Riding versus running... and flying.

Crispin celebrates his U23 win.

Dutch racer Yara Kastelijn on her way to the elite women's win ahead of Italian Eva Lechner.

The course got wetter as the day went on.

Celebrating the new women's champion, Kastelijn, with Eva Lechner in second and fellow Dutch racer Annemarie Worst in third.

Mathieu Van der Poel calm on the start line.

Belgian racers excelling in the mud.

Van der Poel showing off his mountain biking skills.

The men's podium: Laurens Sweeck in third, Eli Iserbyt in second, and Mathieu Van der Poel with the win.