Preview Antwerp 2024 World Cup | Major UCI event sets off with all stars present

2023/2024 Mathieu van der Poel / Fem van Empel
2022/2023 Mathieu van der Poel / Fem van Empel
2021/2022 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

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

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.

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.  

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])