Preview Rapencross Lokeren X2O Trophy 2024 | Men present, but Van Empel absent!

The so-called Rapencross in Lokeren is actually entering its fourth edition. The cyclo-cross race in Lokeren first took place in 2018 as part of the precursor to the current Ethias Cross. Subsequent races were held in 2020 and 2021, with the Belgian Championships taking place in Lokeren in 2023. Michael Vanthourenhout and Sanne Cant won the race, and now, in November 2024, cyclo-cross is returning to this Belgian town after almost two years.

2023 (Belgian Championships) Michael Vanthourenhout / Sanne Cant
2021 Eli Iserbyt / Denise Betsema
2020 Eli Iserbyt / Aniek van Alphen 
2018 Daan Soete / Sanne Cant

The starting location will be located behind the city's train station, on Uebergdreef in Lokeren. A starting line has been laid out here with eight start lanes, each 75 centimeters wide and 10 meters long. The course is approximately 2800 meters long, beautiful and highly varied, with numerous natural and artificial obstacles. It is at least three meters wide everywhere, which benefits fairness for the participants.

The course is characterized by sections over and across Mont Henri and passages through Park ter Beuken. Additionally, two barriers with a maximum height of forty centimeters are placed along the route, according to the technical guide provided by the organizers.

Weather
The riders seem to have little to fear from the weather conditions. A temperature of 11 degrees Celsius is being forecast for Sunday. It will be a dry day, without much wind.

Times
Start women: 1:45 PM locally (9:45 AM EST)
Finish women: 2:30 PM locally (10:30 AM EST)
Start men: 3:00 PM locally (11:00 AM EST)
Finish men: 4:00 PM locally (12:00 PM EST)

No Fem van Empel among the ladies this year. The Visma | Lease a Bike rider has ticked off her initial goals  of the season with her victories in the Koppenbergcross and at the European Championships, and she won’t be participating this weekend, unlike the second and third place finishers from the European Championships in Pontevedra, Spain.

We are indeed referring to Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado from Fenix-Deceuninck, who skipped the first X2O race in Oudenaarde, and Baloise Trek Lions’ strong Lucinda Brand. These two ladies are the top favorites for the Rapencross.

For Zoe Backstedt of Canyon/SRAM, the cyclo-cross race in Lokeren marks her return to the field. She will compete with the likes of Annemarie Worst (Cyclocross Reds), Denise Betsema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal), Laura Verdonschot (De Ceuster-Bouwpunt), Manon Bakker and Marion Norbert Riberolle (Crelan-Corendon) for a spot on the podium.

Top favorite: Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions)
Outsiders: Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Deceuninck) and Zoe Backstedt (Canyon/SRAM)
Long shots: Annemarie Worst (Cyclocross Reds), Laura Verdonschot (De Ceuster-Bouwpunt) and Marion Norbert Riberolle (Crelan-Corendon) 

For the men, nearly all familiar names from recent weeks will be present, except for Joran Wyseure and European silver medalist Felipe Orts. Thibau Nys, who achieved a convincing victory last Sunday in Galicia, was also not listed on the first version of the provisional start list. However, the Belgian from Baloise Trek Lions has announced through his father Sven that he will indeed make his debut in Lokeren in his new kit.

It was a successful weekend for Baloise Trek Lions, as Lars van der Haar won the Koppenbergcross on Friday. The Dutchman, who finished fifth at the European Championships, logically leads the X2O Trophy. Pim Ronhaar is also gaining momentum after a rocky start to the season.

Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal announced this week that they would introduce a new co-sponsor starting January 1. Eli Iserbyt and Michael Vanthourenhout, the team’s two main assets, have also had good experiences in Lokeren. Iserbyt won there in 2020 and 2021, while Vanthourenhout became Belgian champion on almost the same course in 2023.

Toon Aerts, representing Deschachts-Hens-FSP, showed at the Koppenberg that he is fully back, while Jente Michels, Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Witse Meeussen, Toon Vandebosch, Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon) and Gerben Kuypers (Charles Liegeois Roastery CX) have already demonstrated impressive form this season.

Top favorite:Thibau Nys (Baloise Trek Lions)
Outsiders: Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) and Lars van der Haar (Baloise Trek Lions)
Long shots: Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal), Pim Ronhaar (Baloise Trek Lions) and Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Deceuninck)

You can watch the Rapencross live on Sunday via Sporza (VRT1) and Eurosport (Eurosport 1 and HBO Max Sport), starting from 1:40 PM in the afternoon local time (9:40 AM EST).