Preview Antwerp 2024 World Cup | Major UCI event sets off with all stars present
Cyclo-cross
There's been said and written plenty about the World Cup, so it's time to kick it off. It's later than ever, but UCI hopes this will give the major event on the cyclo-cross calendar some more distinction. In Antwerp, the stars face each other for the first time and are all present. Well, that excludes Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert, but do we still consider their cyclo-cross ambitions in a ranking? IDLProCycling.com gives you a preview of what to expect.
Latest winners World Cup cyclocross Antwerp
2023/2024 Mathieu van der Poel / Fem van Empel
2022/2023 Mathieu van der Poel / Fem van Empel2021/2022 Cancelled
2020/2021 Mathieu van der Poel / Denise Betsema
2019/2020 Belgian Championships
2018/2019 Mathieu van der Poel / Denise Betsema
2017/2018 Mathieu van der Poel / Sanne Cant
2016/2017 Mathieu van der Poel / Sanne Cant
2015/2016 Wout van Aert / Sanne Cant
2014/2015 Mathieu van der Poel / Sanne Cant
2013/2014 Niels Albert / Katie Compton
Course, weather and times Antwerp cyclo-cross World Cup 2024
Minor adjustments are made, but the basics of the World Cup cyclo-cross in Antwerp remain the same. That means riding through the sand along the Scheldt River, turning and twisting through the woods, and speeding through the urban areas. This is undoubtedly a race for powerful riders and sand specialists and considerably less for punchers.
Weather
Although it has been raining cats and dogs all week in the Netherlands and Belgium, the wind will play a crucial role on Sunday. With wind force 4 from the south, it will be extra demanding for the cyclists in Antwerp. Those expecting snow and ice will be disappointed. Buienradar indicates a temperature of 15 degrees on Sunday afternoon, a bizarre increase compared to Saturday when it will still be 5 degrees.
Times
Start women: 7:40 AM EST
Finish women: 8:30 AM EST
Start men: 9:10 AM EST
Finish men: 10:10 AM EST
Favorites women's cyclo-cross World Cup Antwerp 2024
The first World Cup race of the season is where everyone wants to be! That means that after her comeback in Kortrijk on Saturday, Fem van Empel will also be at the start in Antwerp on Sunday. This will allow us to check out the balance between her and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and Lucinda Brand after her weeks of training.
They were calling the shots during Van Empel's absence, but what will happen now that the world champion returns? That question will also be asked of Sara Casasola, who has consistently competed for the podium spots in recent weeks but may now end up back in the ungrateful fourth position...
We also expect some things from the other foreign youngsters. Marie Schreiber has already shown her strength, and SD Worx-Protime teammate Kata Blanka Vas is back. Zoe Bäckstedt will also be there, with all her ambitious plans. Furthermore, European U23 champion Célia Gery has also been spotted on the start list.
From the Dutch perspective, Annemarie Worst and Inge van der Heijden are riding increasingly better, and U23 Leonie Bentveld is blending in more and more with the elite subtop. In Belgium, hopes are set on Marion Norbert-Riberolle.
Favorites men's cyclocross World Cup Antwerp 2024
Basically, all the big names are also there among the men. Let's talk about Baloise Trek Lions, which has four cards to play with: Thibau Nys, Lars van der Haar, Pim Ronhaar, and David Haverdings. In that regard, we are curious to see how Nys returns after his knee injury from a crash in Hamme.
At Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal, they are still waiting for the first win of 2024. Are you kidding me? Not at all. Eli Iserbyt and Michael Vanthourenhout have been consistently defeated, and their chances of winning are not necessarily getting any better. Laurens Sweeck is improving his form at Corendon-Crelan and will have his beloved sandbox in Antwerp.
At Ridley Racing Dutch champion Joris Nieuwenhuis finally returns, although with Felipe Orts, the team already has a trusted card to play out. Niels Vandeputte, for his part, will ride around with confidence after his victory for Alpecin-Deceuninck in Hamme. U23 teammate Jente Michels will also try to perform well. Finally, we mention Joran Wyseure, who has already won a race this year as one of Sweeck's teammates.
TV coverage Cyclo-cross World Cup Antwerp 2024
Eurosport will make it a long broadcast on Sunday. It starts at 7:30 a.m. and continues in one stretch after the women with the men. Cyclo-cross fun from 7.30 to 10.15 AM EST. You can watch it on TV via Eurosport 1 and HBO Max Sport online. Sporza also broadcast live (and most importantly, for free) on VRT, starting at 7:30 AM EST.
Bram van der Ploeg (Twitter: @BvdPloegg | email: [email protected])
Read also
Il Lombardia 2024
The Pogacar effect: How Tadej has shaped the career of Matthews in a crucial way
Can Decathlon AG2R's big budget strike back against the 'Big Four' this spring?
Mathieu van der Poel links second cyclo-cross win to the challenge awaiting him in spring
Laurens Sweeck "saw stars" in the wheel of Mathieu van der Poel: "That's where he finishes us off"
Incredible: Van der Poel admits after cyclo-cross in Mol that he won without warming up: "But that happens often"
Latest Cycling News
The Pogacar effect: How Tadej has shaped the career of Matthews in a crucial way
Can Decathlon AG2R's big budget strike back against the 'Big Four' this spring?
Mathieu van der Poel links second cyclo-cross win to the challenge awaiting him in spring
Laurens Sweeck "saw stars" in the wheel of Mathieu van der Poel: "That's where he finishes us off"
Incredible: Van der Poel admits after cyclo-cross in Mol that he won without warming up: "But that happens often"
Popular Cycling News
Visma | Lease a Bike signs 17-year-old super talent: son of Armstrong's former domestique
How is Wout doing? Van Aert caught illness from kids, but new return date looks realistic
Mathieu van der Poel links second cyclo-cross win to the challenge awaiting him in spring
Incredible: Van der Poel admits after cyclo-cross in Mol that he won without warming up: "But that happens often"
Still busy with cyclo-cross, but Van der Poel is already looking ahead to the road season: "Won't start with San Remo"
Latest Comments
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024