Preview World Cup Hoogerheide 2024 | Mathieu van der Poel on Adrie's home turf, week before World Championships!

Hoogerheide, the sacred ground of cyclocross! Last year, we witnessed a fantastic edition of the World Cycling Championship in West Brabant, featuring local heroes Mathieu van der Poel and Fem van Empel as victors. However, in 2024, the cyclocross returns to its traditional position: the last race before the World Championships and a crucial World Cup event. IDLProCycling.com guides you through it!

Hoogerheide is undeniably Van der Poel territory. Adrie is in charge of designing the circuit, a role he has excelled at for many years. His son, Mathieu, also feels right at home there, having already clinched victory in five World Cup editions and last year's World Championship. The last Belgian to conquer the cross was Eli Iserbyt in 2022.

Among the women, Dutch cyclists such as Marianne Vos and Lucinda Brand have recently graced the honor roll. However, the memory of Van Empel's World Cup triumph is still fresh. She, too, will compete on Sunday in her home province.

Latest winners World Cup cyclocross Hoogerheide

2023 Mathieu van der Poel / Fem van Empel (World Cup)
2022 Eli Iserbyt / Marianne Vos
2021 Cancelled
2020Mathieu van der Poel / Lucinda Brand
2019 Mathieu van der Poel / Lucinda Brand
2018 Mathieu van der Poel / Sanne Cant
2017 Lars van der Haar / Marianne Vos
2016 Mathieu van der Poel / Sophie de Boer
2015 Mathieu van der Poel / Eva Lechner
2014 Zdenek Stybar / Marianne Vos (World Cup)

Course, weather, and schedule for the Cyclocross World Cup Hoogerheide 2024

The Hoogerheide course has undergone minimal changes from last winter's World Cup layout. The total length of the course is 3174 meters, with 2459 meters comprising grass, 391 meters of asphalt, and 324 meters of forest undergrowth. Riders commence in a gentle bend, with the road slightly inclining. They then enter the field for the first time at the equipment station, followed by a stretch around the 12-Apostle Tree.

Exiting the forest strip, we reenter the field for the first time, navigating through some loops towards the equipment post. Subsequently, we pass the bars before reaching the Uilenberg. Beyond this climb, we proceed along the paved path toward the stairs, followed by a sharp turn and the finishing lane on the Scheldeweg. This section also involves an uphill ascent.

Weather
Hoogerheide and the surrounding area can expect favorable conditions on Sunday. The temperature will be around 8 degrees Celsius, with dry weather and relatively mild winds. However, the ground of the Brabantse Wal may still retain some moisture.

Times (Sunday, January 28, 2024)
Women's start: 1:40 pm
Finish women: 2:30 pm 
Men's start: 3:10 pm 
Finish men: 4:10 pm 

Favorites women Cyclocross World Cup Hoogerheide 2024

If we were to identify one woman as this season's standout performer, it is undoubtedly Fem van Empel of Visma | Lease a Bike. The Brabant native has been consistently impressive throughout the season, and after a brief hiatus, she made a resolute comeback in Benidorm last Sunday. Van Empel exudes confidence and is determined to give her best in the final weeks of the season; that much is evident.

As is often the case, the primary contenders hail from their respective countries, with Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck), Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Deceuninck), and Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) leading the pack. Pieterse and World Cup winner Alvarado stood on the podium in Spain last week, while Brand dominated the competition at the Dutch National Championships the week before.

Furthermore, we have our eyes on foreign talents Blanka Kata Vas, Marie Schreiber (SD Worx), Sara Casasola, and Zoe Backstedt (Canyon/SRAM), along with Leonie Bentveld (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal), Annemarie Worst, Aniek van Alphen (Cyclocross Reds), Inge van der Heijden, Manon Bakker, Sanne Cant, and Marion Norbert-Riberolle (Crelan-Corendon) from the Low Countries, of course.

Favorites women's cyclocross World Cup Hoogerheide, according IDLProCycling.com

Top favorite: Fem van Empel (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Outsiders: Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) and Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions)
Long shots: Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Blanka Kata Vas (SD Worx) and Zoe Backstedt (Canyon/SRAM)

Favorites men's cyclocross World Cup Hoogerheide 2024

In the men's race, the top favorite is undoubtedly the world champion, Mathieu van der Poel. He consistently performs well in his home cyclocross, and with the World Championships just one week away, it's crucial for him to once again showcase his excellent form, carrying the necessary confidence to Tábor for the world title race.

When it comes to competitors, the season has mainly revolved around two teams, aside from Wout van Aert. The Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal team, led by Eli Iserbyt and the steadily improving Michael Vanthourenhout, consistently contends for victory. Iserbyt, in particular, has demonstrated prowess on the circuit in West Brabant.

At Baloise Trek Lions, all four lead riders will be present at the start. Pim Ronhaar, Joris Nieuwenhuis, Lars van der Haar, and Thibau Nys—all four will be vying for a place on the podium. While Van der Haar is recognized for handling the Brabantse Wal course effectively, the other riders currently appear to have a bit more momentum.

Other clients for a top ten include Ryan Kamp, Toon Vandebosch, Joran Wyseure, Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon), Cameron Mason (Cyclocross Reds) and Felipe Orts.

Favorites men's cyclocross World Cup Hoogerheide, according to IDLProCycling.com

Top favorite:Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Outsiders: Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) and Pim Ronhaar (Baloise Trek Lions)
Long shots: Michael Vanthourenhout  (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal), Joris Nieuwenhuis, Lars van der Haar and Thibau Nys (Baloise Trek Lions)

TV Cyclocross World Cup Hoogerheide 2024

Eurosport will carry the cross from 1:30 p.m. live on Eurosport 1, Eurosport.nl and Discovery+. NOS will cover the World Cup via a live stream on nos.nl and may also cover the cyclo-cross in its afternoon broadcast on NPO1, while Sporza will be there from 1:30 p.m. on VRT 1.