Preview World Cup Waterloo 2023 | Who will come up short in America?

From the road to gravel, and now to the field: that's the transition we've made in the past week. After last weekend's initial cyclocross event in Beringen, the cyclocross season continues next Sunday in the United States, with Waterloo hosting the first World Cup of the winter season. IDLProCycling.com will be covering the event for you!

The world of cyclocross is no stranger to occasional controversies, and once again, tension is building up as we approach this overseas cyclocross race. Teams have invested substantial resources and early-season logistical planning for this American cross in Waterloo, which takes place right next to Trek's headquarters.

Nevertheless, cyclocross enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the event. In previous editions, Mathieu van der Poel and Sanne Cant claimed victory in Waterloo. Subsequently, Toon Aerts, Eli Iserbyt, Katerina Nash, and Marianne Vos joined the list of winners before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. After the pandemic, Iserbyt continued to dominate by winning the cross two more times. In the women's category, Fem van Empel celebrated victory last year.

Latest winners cyclocross World Cup Waterloo

2022Eli Iserbyt/ Fem van Empel
2021 Eli Iserbyt / Marianne Vos
2020 Not ridden
2019 Eli Iserbyt / Katerina Nash
2018 Toon Aerts / Marianne Vos
2017 Mathieu van der Poel / Sanne Cant

Course, weather and times cyclocross World Cup Waterloo 2023

The course for the World Cup race has remained largely unchanged from 2022, the last time a cyclocross event was held here. As a result, we can anticipate the same features as in previous years: a swift start, followed by technical sections and artificial hills.

The course includes obstacles such as logs, a flyover, steep descents, off-camber sections, and barriers, all of which are fitting for a World Cup event. Overall, recent years have witnessed consistent differences in the men's race, with gaps usually extending to at least half a minute. On the other hand, the women's race has been more closely contested, often resulting in a sprint finish in the past two years.

Weather
The temperature in Waterloo is expected to reach around 12 degrees Celsius on Sunday, on a moderately cloudy day. Chance of precipitation is barely there, unlike the days ahead.

Times
Start women: 7:30 p.m. (12:30 p.m. U.S. time)
Finish women: 8:15 p.m. (1:15 p.m. U.S. time)
Start men: 9:00 p.m. (2:00 p.m. U.S. time)
Finish men: 10:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m. U.S. time)

Favorites women's cyclocross World Cup Waterloo 2023

Undoubtedly, the top favorite is Fem van Empel from Jumbo-Visma. This Dutchwoman has dedicated herself entirely to the cyclocross season this year, putting her road and gravel campaigns on hold to focus on the upcoming races in the coming months. Just last Sunday, Van Empel cleverly secured a solo victory in Beringen, showcasing her excellent form. Her impressive performance last year in Waterloo also indicates her readiness for the upcoming event.

Mentioning Van Empel naturally brings to mind the technical virtuoso, Puck Pieterse. She has spent the last few weeks on the other side of the world due to the Mountain Biking World Cups in Snowshoe, USA, and Monte Saine Anne, Canada. As a result, she might currently have slightly less familiarity with her cyclocross bike. However, someone with Pieterse's skills can likely adapt without immediate difficulty.

Shirin van Anrooij is the promising female talent representing Baloise Trek Lions, close to the headquarters of bike manufacturer Trek. She is certainly eager for a strong performance. The same goes for Ceylin Carmen del Alvarado, the runner-up in Beringen. Zoe Backstedt (Canyon/SRAM), Manon Bakker, the unfortunate Inge van der Heijden (Corelan-Corendon) in Beringen, Evie Richards, Jolanda Neff (Trek), and Maghalie Rochette are also contenders to watch out for.

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

Top favorite: Fem van Empel (Jumbo-Visma)
Outsiders: Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Shirin van Anrooij (Baloise Trek Lions)
Long shots: Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Zoe Backstedt (Canyon/SRAM) and Inge van der Heijden (Corendon Corendon)

Favorites men's cyclocross World Cup Waterloo 2023

Nine Belgians, five Dutch, and two Swiss riders make up the participants in the World Cup cyclocross event in Waterloo. Eli Iserbyt, representing Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal, stands out as a prominent contender. He has clinched victory in the last three races. Michael Vanthourenhout, while also a strong contender, faces stiff competition.

Thibau Nys and Lars van der Haar are eager to demonstrate their skills to sponsor Trek. Nys has already made an impressive statement last week by securing victory in the BeMine Cross in Beringen, while wearing his Baloise Trek Lions jersey. It was a remarkable moment, marking his first professional win. Is he now on a roll?

At Corelan-Corendon, they can count on Witse Meeussen, who is determined to compete for a strong final ranking. Additionally, with Gerben Kuypers and Lander Loockx absent, riders such as Ryan Kamp, Pim Ronhaar, Joris Nieuwenhuis, Toon Vandebosch, Daan Soete, Niels Vandeputte, and others are worth keeping an eye on.

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

Top favorite:Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal)
Outsiders:Thibau Nys (Baloise Trek Lions) and Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal)
Long shots: Lars van der Haar, Joris Nieuwenhuis (Baloise Trek Lions) and Witse Meeussen (Crelan-Corendon)

TV Cyclocross World Cup Waterloo 2023

Due to the time difference, the cross of Waterloo can be seen in the Dutch and Belgian evenings: the women will start at 7:30 p.m. for their three-quarter-hour ride, while the men will take about one hour starting at 9 p.m. You can follow this on Eurosport 1, Eurosport.nl, Discovery+, GCN+ and NOS.nl.