Of all the riders taking to the start line at the 2024 UCI Cyclocross World Championship in Tabor, no rider will attract more attention than Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin Deceuninck), but that’s because he’s the defending champion. It’s not just because he’s a world champion.
Van der Poel’s cyclocross season comes after a hugely successful year on the road, with wins at Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix, and the rainbow jersey at the UCI Road World Championships in Glasgow. It has arrived.
He has been nearly unstoppable in cyclocross this season. He probably would have been unbeaten had he not fallen against a post during the Benidorm World Cup.
Van der Poel is a player to watch in a strong elite men’s field that lacks other ‘big three’ rivals Wout van Aert and Tom Pidcock, but includes ‘cross-crop elites’. There is.
Belgian champion Eli Yserbeit (Pauwels Sausen Bingaard) will secure a place in the UCI World Cup if he can hold off Joris Nieuwenhuis (Baloise Trek) in Hoogerheide this weekend, and is confident of his teammate’s He is a permanent podium candidate along with Michael Vantourenhout. For Belgium.
At the World Championship, Nieuwenhuis and teammates Pim Rongaard and Lars van der Haar will not challenge compatriot van der Poel, but if he hits pole position again , they would definitely be strong backup candidates.
Lonhard was the only rider to compete alongside van der Poel (for a while) in the X2O race at Coxede, winning the World Cup in Ireland, second in Namur and third in Flamanville. became.
British champion Cameron Mason is a big outside prospect who could benefit from team tactics in Belgium versus the Netherlands. Mason has made a huge leap forward this year, finishing on the podium at the European Championship and five other races.
elite women
This season, van der Poel has won many races by herself, and the women’s contest is becoming even more exciting. Despite some ups and downs, Femme van Empel (Visma Lease-A-Bike) is the favorite to be the defending champion and has been a dominant rider with 15 wins this year.
Her latest challenge comes from last year’s Van Empel runner-up Puck Peters (Alpecin Deceuninck). The winner at Tabor will undoubtedly come from a talented Dutch team. They don’t have to worry about using team tactics.
A battle is expected between the teams of Van Empel, Pieterse, and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin Deceuninck), who have always maintained the top position even in the absence of Sirin van Henrooy.
Dutch champion Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek) has had to overcome many misfortunes, including a broken nose in a crash at Zonhoven, but after a season of consistent podiums, she is fourth in the rainbow jersey. became a major candidate.
Unless outsiders like Canada’s Magalie Rochette and Isabella Holmgren, Italy’s Sara Casasola and Belgium’s Laura Verdonschott pull off a surprise, the podium will be dominated by the Dutch, as it has been in three of the past four years. likely to be monopolized.
Women under 23 years old
Among women under 23, Czech rider Kristyna Zemanova has a solid place among the elite, including 4th place at the World Cup in Val di Sole, 5th place in Zonhoven, and 6th place in Dendermonde. After a season of competition, the host nation is the favorite to win a medal. She won a bronze medal at last year’s World Championships in Hoogerheide.
Espoir (under-23) female athletes don’t have many opportunities to race separately, but Britain’s British under-23 European title was won at Pontchâteau without competing in the crowds of elite races. Zoe Backstead is the clear favorite to win. She finished second to Sirin van Anrooy at last year’s world championships.
Luxembourg champion Marie Schreiber (SD Works) has continued to perform consistently this season, scoring an elite podium in Flamanville, as has Dutch rider Leonie Bentveld (Powells Sausen Bingaard). But last year’s junior world champion Isabella Holmgren (Canada) will never be able to do that. will be discounted.
Boys under 23 years old
In the Espoir men’s division, World Cup leader Tibor Del Grosso appears to be the favorite, but Belgians Emiel Verstringe, Gente Michels and Ward Huybs are equally talented.
Del Grosso finished a close second to last year’s Under-23 winner Tibau Nis. Niss is only 21 years old and is starting to race as an elite.
Verstringe outperformed both Del Grosso and his Belgian teammate in Benidorm and looks set to be the top favorite for the win.
Dutch rider David Haverdings, the X2O Trophy leader, and Frenchman Leo Bichot, the 2023 junior world champion, are also possible on the podium.
Andrew Strohmeier has shown in the American races this season that he is suited to fast tracks, and a top-10 finish in the U-23 race in Benidorm is a good indicator of his current form. It became.
junior girls
World Cup leader Celia Gerry (France) and Briton Cat Ferguson lead this year’s junior women, but American Vida López de Sant, who won with Hulst’s besting cross,・Please keep an eye on Roman and Slovakia’s Viktoria Kladonova, who was runner-up in the same competition. Benidorm and Namur World Cup.
junior boys
French rider Aubin Spurfel, a three-time World Cup winner, is the favorite for the junior men’s race. He has been competing against Italian Stefano Viezzi for most of the season, with Kaye Soren (Netherlands) coming in a close second in Benidorm.
Look out for Belgian champion Arthur van den Boer, American champion David Thompson (USA) and Czech prospect Christoph Bazant.