Preview X2O Trophy Koppenbergcross 2024 | Who dares to take on battle of attrition heading into European Championship?

Koppenberg-European Championship. It's the combination everyone has been talking about for weeks. On Friday, we'll see the stars in Oudenaarde in Belgium before they quickly have to fly to Spain. That's because the European Championship is set to take place on Sunday in Pontevedra. It's a logistically crazy undertaking, but it says a lot about the Koppenbergcross that it stood firm on the schedule (read: November 1, or not at all) and that it still managed to attract many big names to the start list despite the European Championship being right after.

Christophe Impens, on behalf of organizer Golazo, stated in a press release: "With the Koppenbergcross, the X2O Trophy kicks off with one of the absolute classics. The top riders know this too, as two days before the European Championship, everyone will be at the start in Oudenaarde. Golazo is grateful to the UEC for being willing to schedule the elite women's and men's European Championship races on Sunday, making the Koppenbergcross–European Championship combination possible."

2023 Thibau Nys / Fem van Empel
2022 Lars van der Haar / Fem van Empel
2021 Eli Iserbyt / Clara Honsinger
2020 Eli Iserbyt /  Annemarie Worst
2019 Eli Iserbyt /  Yara Kastelijn
2018 Toon Aerts /  Kim van de Steene
2017 Mathieu van der Poel / Helen Wyman
2016 Wout van Aert /  Jolien Verschuren
2015 Wout van Aert / Jolien Verschuren
2014 Wout van Aert / Sophie de Boer

Starting at the bottom of the Koppenberg and finishing at the top of the grueling cobblestone climb. Like we said, a challenging course is traditionally thought out every year, but the differences are made on the Koppenberg. Whoever can shift into a higher gear there has the upper hand. We rarely see duels until the final second. The best rider of the day almost always wins.

What does the course have in store? Logically, there's a lot of climbing and descending. "The course is virtually unchanged from last year, except for the small loop around the VIP tent, which has been removed," it reads.

Weather
In principle, the weather will be dry on Friday, with a pleasant temperature of around 14 degrees Celsius. The sun is not expected to break through the clouds, but there will be hardly any wind. Ideal cyclocross weather.

Times
Start women: 1:45 PM locally (8:45 AM EST)
Finish women: 2:30 PM locally (9:30 AM EST)
Start men: 3:00 PM locally (10 AM EST)
Finish men: 4:00 PM locally (11 AM EST)

The big question is: who dares to take on the double, and who is focusing solely on the European Championship? The answer might surprise you, as there are a lot of big names starting on Friday. Among the women, world champion and defending titleholder Fem van Empel will be present. She called it her first big goal last weekend in Overijse. That sounds promising...

The course suits her perfectly, so the Koppenberg is also the ideal place to gain some extra confidence heading into the European Championship. Lucinda Brand beat her in Overijse and is in excellent form. It's no surprise that Brand is also taking on the double. "I'm always good in a double weekend," she said with a laugh.

Among the men, several riders are already known to be taking on the double, starting with defending champion Thibau Nys. Last year, the Koppenberg was actually his last highlight of the cyclocross season, and this time he aims to change that. After his surprise win in Overijse, the young Belgian from Baloise Trek Lions hopes to keep the momentum going.

His teammate Lars van der Haar will also be there, as the Dutchman rarely misses a cyclocross race. He received "a proper proposal" from the organization and will attempt to challenge Nys. Baloise Trek Lions teammate Pim Ronhaar is also participating, although it's uncertain just how fit he currently is.

Of course, the formidable Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal duo will also be competing. Eli Iserbyt and Michael Vanthourenhout always perform well in the early weeks of the season, as evidenced by Vanthourenhout's two consecutive European Championship titles. Can he impress again on the Koppenberg?

The Koppenbergcross will be broadcast live on Friday via Sporza (VRT1) and Eurosport (Eurosport 1 and HBO Max Sport), starting at 1:40 PM local time (8:40 AM EST).