Rabobank-Giant cyclocross racer Lars van der Haar is a World Champion again. The 20-year-old Dutch sensation won a tough battle in Saturday’s Under-23 race at the 2012 Cyclocross Worlds in Belgium, donning the rainbow stripes for the second consecutive year. Van der Haar was joined on the podium by fellow Dutchman and Rabobank-Giant rider Michiel van der Heijden in third.

The course in Koksijde, a town that last hosted Cyclocross Worlds in 1994, is known for its sand. The dunes present a formidable challenge; technical skills and maintaining momentum are critical.

Riding his Giant TCX Advanced SL, van der Haar battled with Belgian Wietse Bosmans, who had the support of the home crowd. Van der Haar was the first to make a move and break off the front of the group but Bosmans bridged up, followed by van der Heijden. The three stayed away, trading turns at the front until the final sand stretch, known as “X-Dune.”

As they his the sand, Bosmans and van der Haar bumped shoulders but van der Haar emerged first, holding his advantage to the line to take the win for The Netherlands. The victory put an exclamation point on another magical season for van der Haar, who, for the second year in a row, won the European, World Cup and World titles in the U23 category.

The Cyclocross World Championships continue on Sunday, with the elite women’s and elite men’s races.