Dan Seaton gallery: Cyclocross Kerstperiode

Spencer Downing (center) and Jake Womersley (right) fight for the same line in the mud in the juniors race in Loenhout. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Simon Kerouedan makes his way down the long, muddy course in the Loenhout juniors race. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Japan's Ayako Toyooka and her sequined helmet on the start line in Loenhout. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Nicole Duke concentrates before the start of Azencross in Loenhout. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

World champion Marianne Vos (left) and U.S. national champion Katie Compton attempt to get moving again after colliding on the first lap in Loenhout. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Vos uses course padding for balance as she runs through a slippery corner. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Crystal Anthony runs through the mud in Loenhout. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Loenhout was one of many races over the Christmas season that left riders painted black with mud. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Photographers capture Belgian national champion Sanne Cant as she celebrates a sprint win over Englishwoman Nikki Harris in Loenhout. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

EuroCrossCamper Drew Dillman watches the races in Loenhout. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Jonathan Page (left) and Sven Nys chat before the start of Azencross in Loenhout. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Riders roll away from the start as the lights go green in Loenhout. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Dutchman Thijs Al on the pump track in Loenhout. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Jeremy Durrin races through the mud in Loenhout. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Justin Lindine traverses the flyover in Loenhout. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Twenty three-year-old Belgian Jim Aernouts rides coated in mud in Loenhout. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Two-time world cyclocross champion-turned roadie Zdenek Stybar pulls away from Niels Albert in Loenhout. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Brit Gabby Day looks up from the course in Diegem. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Fans cheer as Czech rider Katerina Nash leads out the sprint in Diegem. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

American junior champion Logan Owen chases the holeshot in Diegem. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Junior world champion Mathieu van der Poel of the Netherlands crosses the flyover in Diegem. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

American under-23 national champion Zach McDonald warms up before the U23 race in Diegem. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Drew Dillman warms up before his race in Diegem. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

U23 racers make their way up a packed hillside in Diegem. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

A young fan has a birthday wish for Belgian U23 racer Wietse Bosmans. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Bart Wellens talks to Belgian TV before the start of a night race in Diegem. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Racers await the green lights on the start line in Diegem. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

A fan watches the race in Diegem from inside the busy pit area. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Aernouts takes the flyover in Diegem. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

A rider races his way through the pouring rain in Diegem. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Belgian Klaas Vantornout follows the chase group in Diegem. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Wellens is almost unrecognizable after a muddy race in Diegem. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Ellen Van Loy attacks on her way out of the pit in Baal. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Christine Vardaros hops a few stairs in Baal. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

A very muddy Amy Dombroski walks away from the course in Baal. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Nash slaps hands with fans as she wins her second straight race in Baal. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Wellens awaits the start in Baal. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Dutchman Eddy Van Ijzendoorn lines up behind Page and Al in Baal. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Spectators wade through the soupy mud in Baal. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Albert nears the bottom of a tricky descent in Baal. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Stybar tackles the slippery descent in Baal. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Spectators await the race leaders in Baal. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Page heads down the steep, slippery descent in Baal. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

A mechanic has a clean bike ready and waiting for Stybar. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com

Page got more than a little muddy on his way to a top-10 result in Baal. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com