Michiel van der Heijden, the 2010 Junior Cross-Country World Champion from the Rabobank-Giant team, had a successful debut as an Under-23 rider, finishing fifth at Saturday’s opening round of the World Cup in South Africa.

Van der Heijden, a 19-year-old Dutch rider, battled with the world’s best U23 riders on a course in Pietermaritzburg that combined fast doubletrack with rocky, technical sections including “The Treehouse” and “The Quarry.”

Riding his Giant XtC Advanced SL, van der Heijden finished 2:08 behind the day’s winner, Gerhard Kerschbaumer of Italy. Also finishing in the top-10 for Rabobank-Giant was Dutch rider Marco Minnaard, who was ninth on his Giant Anthem X Advanced SL.

In other World Cup cross-country action, Rabobank-Giant riders Rosara Joseph of New Zealand and Katie Compton of the U.S. made their debut with the team, which is fielding a women’s squad for the first time ever. Joseph finished 14th and Compton was 26th.

In pro men's racing, Swiss rider Fabian Giger, in his second year at the elite level, led the team with a 28th-place finish.