I had something already written up so I'm going to do a full preview, even though we already had most of the info in the topic (with large part supplied by Wilier, thanks!). Consider this a summary and some background!
- World Championships Cyclo-cross 2014 -
- Hoogerheide, Netherlands -
- February 1st & 2nd -
Introduction
There we are, the final leg of the Cyclo-cross season! With the European road season about to start this weekend with the GP De La Marseillaise and the GP Costa degli Etruschi, it's the time to end this season of Cross with crowning the new world champion.
Hoogerheide has been a familiar name in Cross for the last few years. Not only has it hosted the WC's before in 2009, it's also part of the annual World Cup calendar. It's a small town on the very south of the Netherlands, locked in between Belgium and open water, as the Scheldt river mouths into the North Sea delta just below it. It also happens to be the birthplace of cycling champion Adri van der Poel, also the father of Mathieu. One could argue it's at the center of Cyclo-cross in the world.
It's situated on the Wall of Brabant, an unusual sighting, as it's a hill in the middle of Holland's otherwise pancake-flat landscape. It's covered with forests and small towns and as such it's a great place to ride for fun, the area attracts a lot of cyclo-tourists throughout the season. Appearantly, it also gave invading armies throughout history loads of trouble, with so far the only conquerors the fans of Cyclo-cross:
Programme
The event is split out over Saturday and Sunday, with the Junior Men and Elite Women on Saturday, and the U23 Men and Elite Men on Sunday.
Saturday February 1st:
11:00 am Men Juniors ( under 18 )
03:00 pm Women Elite
Sunday February 2nd:
11:00 am Men under 23
03:00 pm Men Elite
Interesting fact: on friday the 31st there is a UCI Management Committee meeting at Hoogerheide. It means that Cookson, Makarov and the rest of the committee are present throughout the weekend.
The Race
While Hoogerheide had a reputation for having too much tarmac in the course, this has changed. The course is now largely in the field, with some foresty sections and plenty of banks and small hills. There are a number of showcase videos on Youtube but they all feature older versions of the course.
The map:
The latest weather forecasts throughout the Netherlands and Belgium indicate no rainfall, with morning temperatures at around freezing point, but climbing up to 7-8 degrees Celcius during the day. This week it has been raining, but the very latest reports indicate that the course is surprisingly dry. Should no more rain fall than the course will probably stay that way... but who knows what the surprises the clouds may have for us?
The Riders
This year's Cross season has seen great battles in every category, and we'll be sure to see this happening again this weekend, there are many very strong contenders but no overall favourites.
Junior Men
The Junior Men race is most likely going to be a duel between Belgian Yannick Peeters and Czech rider Adam Toupalik. Both are only still 17 years old, and have been battling hard in the CX World Cup, with Peeters just coming out on top.
Elite Women
This year's Elite Women race may very well be one of the most exciting ones of the past 7 years. There is of course Marianne Vos, the Eddy Merckx of women's cycling, who has won the WC CCX for the past five years straight. But since she's been focusing on a multitude of disciplines for the past year, including MTB, she's been beaten by American Katie Compton more than once this season. This could be Katie's best chance of a WC so far and she knows it. We can expect a fierce battle between the two!
U23 Men
Again, two names rise at the top of the rankings of the U23 category: Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. The Belgian has been putting up a solid fight in the World Cup rankings against the Dutch young prodigy. Mathieu needs no more introduction, with a Junior WC RR win and a famous surname he's an obvious pick for the title, but what can that other young talent, Wout Van Aert, who got disqualified at his own NC after a false start, do?
Elite Men
This year's Elite Men race is going to be one hell of a fight, as we litterally have too many favourites to list: Nys, Van der Haar, Stybar. and all the other Belgians.
The biggest question on everyone's mind seems to be if Stybar is starting or not, and as a matter of fact he is!. Stybar is in Hoogerheide allright, together with Wilfied Peeters, reconnoitering the course and after only one lap his decision was clear: start on Sunday. Sven Nys has seen him train in Mallorca, doing Hill intervals. Nys says his own preparation has been perfect so we could see a strong duel between the two for the title. That is, if Lars van der Haar doesn't snatch it. The young Dutchman has had a solid performance throughout the season, winning the World Cup, but now he awaits his biggest challenge yet.
Ofcourse hoping Van der Haar, Van der Poel and Vos all take it. But it's gonna be hard for all three of them. Nys is by far the biggest favorite in my opinion, he really stands out the last two months.
Van der Poel is going to have a hell of a challenge holding off Van Aert who seems to be superieur in most of the harder races this season. And Vos has been beaten by Compton almost every race..
Very nice preview, but you can edit it a bit because stybar will start, it's official now.
I saw it when i clikked on the first link under the picture of Stybar.
Great preview! Though for elite man a picture of Nys would've been better
Stybar starting is not the biggest news of the WC I think
Don't get me wrong, I thik he's great. But if he has been doing his road training properly, he'll miss what it takes to win cyclo-cross WC against Nys, Van Der Haar and others.
If he hasn't, he might win, but then I'm mad at him for jeopardizing his road season and a potential Paris - Roubaix victory
I cant agree Ian, i think two time world champion making the start despite being focused on the road are the biggest news. Nys is expected to be there and be at the front.
I am looking forward to great race, i can see it between Nys, Lars, Albert and Styby, so much stuffed startlist. Then there is Walsleben, Mouray and others. I wonder what Simunek can do, he was abyssmal whole year, but got better in last weeks.
Also, Toupalik for the win!
Shame that i dont have much money, would be great to meet some of you in Netherlands,those who are going.
Edited by Avin Wargunnson on 31-01-2014 06:53
Maybe my girlfriend will join me but she is hesistant, I would be too considering it's outside in the cold and mud.
Anyways, latest weather forecasts indicate rain on Saturday. Comments from riders and course builder Adri van der Poel state that there are quite a few muddy patches, and that this will get worse after Saturday.
