Mathieu Van der Poel has the historical past books in his attractions as he bids to equivalent the long-standing report of Eric De Vlaeminck at this weekend’s Cyclo-cross Global Championships in Liévin, northern France.
The mythical Belgian megastar received seven elite males’s CX global titles between 1966 and 1973, six of the ones in succession. On the other hand, Van der Poel stands poised on six global titles and is the heavy favorite to compare the historical report 10 years after claiming his first elite rainbow jersey on the age of 20.
If the Alpecin-Deceuninck megastar can take victory then he would then have the danger to damage the report subsequent yr on house turf within the Netherlands as Worlds heads to Hulst.
His greatest problem comes from adolescence rival Wout van Aert after his wonder overdue access was once introduced on Sunday, who can have a military of Belgian lovers making the quick travel over the border into France to give a boost to him.
In the meantime, the elite ladies’s race may well be one for the ages, with protecting champion Fem van Empel bidding for her 3rd consecutive elite global name at simply 22. On the other hand, after a dominant 2024, this previous season has noticed the space from Van Empel to her competition shut considerably.
She’ll most likely face an enormous fight along with her Dutch teammates, maximum significantly Lucinda Logo, who completed her pre-Global Championships marketing campaign with victory in Hoogerheide ultimate weekend, smartly forward of Van Empel in fourth and could also be a former global champion from 2021.
Logo will most likely input as the primary favorite after Marianne Vos additionally unfortunately pulled out because of harm.
In response to a hillside within the French the city of Liévin, close to Lens, the two.5km Val Souchez circuit is normally French and has a mixture of longer sections – the place absolute energy will probably be crucial, technical corners and chicanes, with bridges and extra steps being added for the Worlds.
When the French Nationwide Championships have been held on the similar venue 3 years in the past there was once cushy and muddy flooring as Joshua Dubau soloed to victory. It is been raining for numerous the run into the headline occasions on Saturday and Sunday so the dust may well be closely affected, alternatively, the forecast for now could be supposed to be dry on race day.
Elite Males’s Favourites
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It’s exhausting to appear past the Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands), who would be the company favorite to win his 7th global name in Liévin and equivalent De Vlaeminck’s fantastic tally of 7 elite global titles.
The 30-year-old has received all seven of his cyclocross races this season and has handiest been overwhelmed as soon as in his ultimate 24 outings within the ‘move box because of a crash on the Benidorm Global Cup ultimate yr.
On the other hand, Van der Poel suffered a damaged rib on his technique to successful the Precise Pass in Loenhout and was once pressured to leave out occasions in each Koksijde and Dendermonde – with each lessons requiring huge quantities of operating.
The Dutchman returned in taste ultimate weekend successful at each Maasmechelen and Hoogerheide, having a look smartly again to his almighty easiest forward of Worlds.
On the other hand, if the Liévin path turns into much less rideable as a heavy weekend of racing is going on and the Dutch megastar struggles together with his operating, then his damaged rib might purpose bother and open up the competition.
Van der Poel hasn’t misplaced an elite Global Championships race since 2018, alternatively, so has historical past on his facet and will have to be assured of the report coming his means
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Regardless of Wout van Aert being a overdue access to Worlds, the Visma-Rent a Motorbike rider isn’t a contender to be underestimated and has received 3 elite cyclocross global titles in his occupation, albeit no longer since 2018.
The 30-year-old is a wonder contender at Liévin and was once because of conclude his cyclocross season ultimate weekend after completing runner-up in the back of Van der Poel at Maasmechelen. On the other hand, he’s going to don the sunshine blue of Belgium to provide up a problem to the heavy favorite.
Van Aert will probably be inspired via his efficiency ultimate weekend after in brief difficult his Dutch rival earlier than crashing and completing 1:14 in the back of.
It’s going to take an enormous efficiency via Van Aert to win gold in Liévin, however he has lengthy been offering masterclass rides at the street and cyclocross box. He is additionally the one rider to win an international name with Van der Poel at the startline – at under-23 stage in 2014 and thrice consecutively between 2016-2018.
He’ll be hoping for the heaviest flooring imaginable in Liévin to check the rib ache of rival Van der Poel to the utmost and save you him from making extra historical past.
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At simply 22, younger megastar Thibau Nys will probably be competing in his 2d elite global championship after successful the rainbow jersey at each junior and under-23 ranges.
Already adored via his Belgian lovers, Nys was once born into cyclocross, together with his father Sven Nys having received two elite global titles and 9 nationwide titles.
Nys junior stepped as much as new heights within the 2024-2025 ‘move season and received his first Ecu and Belgium nationwide crowns and will probably be bidding for a blank sweep of the jerseys in Liévin.
Whilst his father was once a cyclocross stalwart, Thibau additionally has street racing aspirations, and his devastating flip of tempo noticed him win levels on the Excursion of Hungary, Excursion of Poland, Excursion of Suisse, Excursion of Norway and the Excursion of Romandie ultimate season, with debuts on the Ardennes and in all probability the Excursion de France set to come back later within the yr.
Nys confirmed that flip of pace to go away a drained Van Aert in his wake to win the Benidorm Global Cup in advantageous style and would were hoping to do the similar once more in Liévin.
On the other hand, his goal of a height end in France has been dented after being pressured to leave out the Global Cup in Maasmechelen ultimate weekend because of sickness after which failing to complete at Hoogerheide tomorrow. Nys will indisputably be on the place to begin however whether or not he is absolutely recovered or no longer is a distinct tale.
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With 4 global championship medals to his title the skilled Baloise Glowi Lions rider Lars van der Haar at all times manages to upward push to the instance and time his shape excellent.
The 33-year-old has received two Ecu and 4 Dutch nationwide titles, however the elite global crown has eluded him regardless of 4 visits to the elite podium since 2013 and a runner-up end as lately as 2022.
Van Der Haar struck his first Global Cup podium of the season on a quick Benidorm path and repeated the outcome at Hoogerheide ultimate weekend, as he seems to be set to have peaked completely for Liévin.
He is tasted Global Championship glory earlier than on two events on the under-23 stage however has been in a tough generation vying for wins in the back of the pair of Van der Poel and Van Aert. He will want one thing in point of fact particular if he’s to win, however be expecting Van der Haar’s easiest.
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After completing 3rd in ultimate yr’s Cyclocross Global Championships Michael Vanthourenhout is having a look set for any other robust end in 2025.
Belgian nationwide trainer Angelo De Clercq additionally instructed Het Laatste Nieuws that the loss of technical options would go well with the energy of Vanthourenhout on a path “tailor-made” to his strengths.
“The circuit is not super technical and the bends are long, it will be something for riders with a lot of substance, a test of strength,” mentioned De Clercq. “When I saw the course, I immediately thought of Michael Vanthourenhout.”
The 32-year-old was once the nearest finisher to Van Der Poel ultimate weekend at Hoogerheide as he chased on my own and completed 1:42 in the back of, proceeding to turn constant shape.
If the Belgium workforce can paintings in combination, they may forestall Van der Poel with workforce ways, and Vanthourenhout is one in all a number of Belgians who may sneak away for victory.
Business teammate Eli Iserbyt is also a weapon within the Belgium assault in rapid prerequisites, whilst Toon Aerts will probably be having a look to solidify his first season again following a doping ban with an international championship medal.
Elite Girls’s Favourites
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The reigning global champion Fem van Empel had completed off the rostrum simply as soon as this season earlier than having a nightmare ultimate weekend with two of her worst effects.
Van Empel’s key energy since becoming a member of the elite ranks has been her psychological calmness and decision-making below drive, which has received her a number of races within the ultimate laps.
On the other hand, the 23-year-old appeared below drive ultimate Saturday and Sunday, when a number of crashes and errors led to a sixth-place end in Maasmechelen, which she adopted up with fourth in Hoogeheide after being not able to practice Lucinda Logo and crashing out of the rostrum battle.
The 22-year-old will probably be hoping for a 3rd successive name earlier than embarking on a street marketing campaign with Visma-Rent a Motorbike, which has drawn a few of her focal point clear of her ‘move occupation.
There’s a query mark over the nonetheless very megastar however she stays ‘very assured’ she’ll have the shape heading into Liévin and a fierce Dutch fight for rainbows.
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At 35 years previous, Lucinda Logo stays probably the most constant rider within the ladies’s cyclocross box and has showcased her energy and gear time and time once more right through this previous season.
A robust street season noticed the Lidl-Trek rider play key roles within the Spring Classics, Vuelta a Burgos Feminas, LOTTO Thuringen Girls Excursion, Giro d’Italia Girls and Excursion de France Femmes avec Zwift, which she credit for her present shocking shape.
Logo had two months off earlier than a top-10 on the Gravel Global Championships and a 27-race and counting ‘cross season. Despite being by far the busiest ‘cross rider she has yet to finish off the podium and clinched eight wins.
Brand will come into the women’s race as many of us’s favorite after using transparent of her competition at Hoogerheide on Sunday to win via 28 seconds, with Van Empel means off and lots of others falling to her unstoppable diesel engine.
The Dutch rider steadily comes just right later within the race along with her massive staying power base at all times getting highlighted within the latter laps. The longer the ones vying for victory fail to drop Logo, the much more likely a 2d name will search for her.
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After being topped Global and Ecu Mountain Motorbike Global Champion, even larger issues have been anticipated from the 22-year-old Puck Pieterse this ‘move season.
All the way through a shortened marketing campaign the Fenix-Deceuninck has podiumed in 5 Global Cup occasions and received the Dutch Nationwide Championship however has no longer appeared fairly as robust as she did within the 2022-23 or 2023-24 CX seasons.
The multi-disciplined rider, who received a degree of ultimate yr’s Excursion de France Femmes avec Zwift and confirmed her true possible as a street race, may upward push to the instance and take victory in Liévin after podiuming the ultimate two years.
In spite of everything, Pieterse handiest believes her shape is getting higher after seeing off the fee of Van Empel to take 3rd at Hoogerheide ultimate weekend. With the street season and Classics drawing near, possibly Pieterse’s easiest will pop out on the greatest race of the season.
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Dutch riders ruled the Global Championships elite ladies’s race in 2024, locking out the highest 4 positions, and this yr’s race seems to be set to be a equivalent tale.
On the other hand, one rider who may disrupt this is Blanka Vas from Hungary, who on her day, can compete with the highest riders and is handiest getting more potent as she matures right into a height ‘move rider.
The 23-year-old has additionally hit shape on the proper second and took the second one Global Cup victory of her occupation at Maasmechelen on Saturday earlier than completing runner-up at Hoogerheide tomorrow.
The five-time Hungarian Nationwide champion would make historical past for her nation if she is to take victory or end at the podium in Liévin, two feats no Hungarian has ever controlled within the elite ladies’s or males’s race.
Vas has had earlier luck in peaking for the Global Championships and took silver and bronze within the under-23 age class, so she is aware of taper accurately for Worlds. With Van Empel no longer at her easiest and with a win over Logo ultimate Saturday, Vas will have to be assured.
