Preview European Cyclo-cross Championship 2024 | Specific course challenges riders, but also crystal ball

Every year, we get the same question: what is the importance of such a European Championship? It was the same last year in Pontchateau, France; it is the same now in Pontevedra, Spain. Still, given the list of winners, it is mainly for the show, as the big names are only too happy to be there. For Michael Vanthourenhout and Fem van Empel, the last two years, the European Championship was a great deal, but the fact is that riders like Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert have not been there for years.

This year, another discussion comes into play: the clash with the Koppenbergcross, traditionally held on November 1 and again did not want to change its schedule. As a result, quite a few competitors will fly to Spain or Porto in Portugal on Saturday, while the equipment will head that way by car.

2023 Michael Vanthourenhout / Fem van Empel
2022 Michael Vanthourenhout / Fem van Empel
2021 Lars van der Haar / Lucinda Brand
20 Eli Iserbyt / Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
2019 Mathieu van der Poel / Yara Kastelijn
2018 Mathieu van der Poel / Annemarie Worst
2017 Mathieu van der Poel / Sanne Cant

On the organization's site, you can read that the course is 3350 meters long. The course designer aims for a "fast and spectacular" race. Despite the emphasis on speed, the course also has the necessary obstacles, which will be music to the ears of the riders present.

"Three bridges will be built at different heights, a sand bank next to the river Lérez, which will be one of the most spectacular areas with the city of Pontevedra in the background, and also planks near the pit area, in the main field. All of this will make the course more challenging."

The focal point is a bridge, after which it is not far from the finish line. According to the organization, this bridge is extended with a ramp of more than 20% and will "demand the maximum from the cyclists just before the finish line." The round also has many unpaved sections, which can turn into tricky mud strips due to rain.

Dutch national coach Gerben de Knegt also had his say on the course. 'We are facing an atypical cyclo-cross course in a city park with few technical sections. I expect a fast but tactical course in which we must make well-defined agreements beforehand, and the riders must work for each other."

Weather
The weather is good in this part of Spain. It promises to be sunny and reasonably warm all weekend. The temperature will be around 23 degrees Celsius, with a moderate wind from the east. Precipitation is not expected.

Timetable
8:10 a.m. start women
9:00 a.m. finish women
9:30 a.m. start men
10:30 a.m. finish men

The participants of this European Cyclo-cross Championship for women are 21 at most, and they fit on one page. So not many, but the battle for the gold probably won't be any less exciting. Fem van Empel managed to win the past two editions and is now also among the top favorites, but behind her, other ladies are chasing her crown.

Van Empel won one of the four crosses she participated in this season. In Ruddervoorde (Belgium), Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado was superior, while Lucinda Brand won the most recent cyclo-crosses in Woerden (the Netherlands) and Overijse (Belgium). These two ladies are also considered the other contenders for Pontevedra, which is very promising.

Italy's Sara Casasola was a big surprise last year with third place but is considered a serious outsider for the medals. Furthermore, the Dutch ladies Inge van der Heijden, Aniek van Alphen, the Frenchwoman Héléne Clauzel, and Belgian women Marion Norbert Riberolle, Alicia Franck, and Laura Verdonschot have a chance on a good day for a top spot.

Top favorite: Fem van Empel (Netherlands)
Outsiders: Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and Lucinda Brand (Netherlands)
Long shots: Sara Casasola (Italy), Héléne Clauzel (France), Aniek van Alphen and Inge van der Heijden (Belgium)

The Dutch stand out among the women, while among the men, it seems to be a task for the Belgians. But that does not mean there are no strong Dutchmen. Michael Vanthourenhout won the last two editions on behalf of the riders in blue (Belgium), who, for the first time, are without national coach Sven Vanthourenhout.

Vanthourenhout did so from an underdog position, which he will likely hold again this time. Indeed, Thibau Nys and Eli Iserbyt are considered the leading contenders based on their most recent performances. Nys' explosiveness and road qualities on the city course still have something to offer compared to Iserbyt.

In his preview, Dutch national coach Gerben de Knegt did not immediately count on a European Championship title but stated that Lars van der Haar and Pim Ronhaar are contenders for medals, just like last year. However, some Belgians are in the running: Joran Wyseure and Niels Vandeputte are doing very well, but we can also expect something from Toon Aerts, Laurens Sweeck, and Gerben Kuypers.

Finally, despite Cameron Mason's (second last year) lack of form, we still mention local favorite Felipe Orts, but the decisive factor is still the Belgians, who should be able to control the race on this course.

Top favorite: Thibau Nys (Belgium)
Outsiders: Eli Iserbyt and Niels Vandeputte (Belgium)
Long shots: Lars van der Haar, Pim Ronhaar (Netherlands), Michael Vanthourenhout and Joran Wyseure (Belgium)

Eurosport switches on live from 5 a.m. on Eurosport 1 and HBO Max and Discovery+ for consecutively the race in the U23 category (women and men) and, of course, the elite women's title race (8 a.m.) and elite men's title race (9:20 a.m.). Sporza begins the broadcast at 6:40 a.m. on VRT Canvas. Note that at 8 a.m., the Belgians switch to VRT1. NOS is freeing up time in its afternoon programming and on NOS.nl for the elite races.