Preview Superprestige Gullegem 2024 | Wout van Aert appears to have one advantage over the competition

These cyclo-cross events follow each other in rapid succession. Saturday's Superprestige in Gullegem is wedged between the X2O Trophy in Koksijde and the World Cup in Dendermonde but is fortunate enough to be one of the five cyclo-cross events where Wout van Aert will start. IDLProCycling.com gives you a preview!

The cyclo-cross of Gullegem is relatively new on the calendar, having only been held six times. Last year, it still did so under its label as Hexia Cross, but after a year's absence from the Superprestige this season, it is again present in the regularity classification. Michael Vanthourenhout ran away with a victory in the men's race last year, while Zoe Backstedt was able to claim the women's race.

There is nothing wrong with the victory list at the cyclo-cross in Gullegem, where we also encountered the names of Wout van Aert, Tom Pidcock, and Mathieu van der Poel in the early days. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado won twice among the ladies, but we also saw young ladies like Shirin van Anrooij and Blanka Kata Vas win.

Latest winners Superprestige Gullegem

2023/2024 Michael Vanthourenhout / Zoe Backstedt
2022/2023Wout van Aert / Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
2021/2022 Tom Pidcock / Shirin van Anrooij
2020/2021 Mathieu van der Poel / Blanka Kata Vas
2019/2020 Mathieu van der Poel / Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
2018/2019 Mathieu van der Poel / Loes Sels

Course, weather and times Superprestige Gullegem 2025

The Gullegem course is 2,500 meters long and contains numerous obstacles. From the start, there is some time to get positioned, which will be needed. After a few turns, the washboard, a hill, and the bridge present obstacles where some difference can already be made.

The riders then face a more technical zone, immediately followed by the barriers and the sandbox. After some time to catch their breath, they move on to the hill zone, after which two bridges and some turns bring them to the start/arrival zone. Depending on the weather conditions, it could be a tough mud race with some running sections or a race where you cycle easily through the field.

Weather
Cold but predicted to be dry: this is how we can describe the weather conditions in Gullegem. It is about 2 degrees Celsius in that part of Belgium.

Times:
Start women: 1:40 PM local time (7:40 AM EST)
Finish women: around 2:30 PM local time (8:30 AM EST)
Start men: 3:10 PM local time (9:10 AM EST)
Finish men: around 4:10 PM local time (10:10 AM EST)

Favorites Superprestige Gullegem 2025 women

In this cyclo-cross race for the Superprestige, we will likely see another battle between Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Deceuninck) and Lucinda Brand (Baloise Glowi Lions). The two are barely one point apart after six races in this regulation classification in Alvarado's favor. She is also not riding in Koksijde on Friday and may have a slight advantage.

Zoe Backstedt, last year's winner, will also be at the start on behalf of Canyon//SRAM. At the same time, the other confirmed participants at the moment are Marion Norbert-Riberolle, Sanne Cant, Sara Casasola (Correlan-Corendon), Leonie Bentveld (Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel), and Aniek van Alphen (Seven Racing) according to the organization.

Top favorite: Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Deceuninck)
Outsiders: Lucinda Brand (Baloise Glowi Lions) and Zoe Backstedt (Canyon//SRAM)
Longshots: Marion Norbert Riberolle, Sanne Cant (Crelan-Corendon) and Leonie Bentveld (Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel)

Favorites Superprestige Gullegem 2025  men 

Wout van Aert rode one cyclo-cross race this winter - in Loenhout - and immediately left a good impression there. Where the other cyclo-cross riders continued to ride race after race, the man from Visma | Lease a Bike continued with training. This ensures he may have a little more fitness on Saturday than his competitors. We consider him a top favorite since he will not meet Mathieu van der Poel here.

But he certainly is not the top favorite by much because some of the other riders already showed that they are focused and fit. What about Laurens Sweeck of Crelan-Corendon, the winner in Diegem? Or Niels Vandeputte in the Alpecin-Deceuninck shirt, who is now comfortably in the lead in the Superprestige?

Eli Iserbyt and Michael Vanthourenhoutare were also at the start in Gullegem the day before manager Jurgen Mettepenningen's Dendermonde cyclo-cross. So does Lars van der Haar of Baloise Glowi Lions, the number two of the Superprestige. Otherwise, the names of Toon Aerts (Deschacht-Hens-FSP), Felipe Orts (Ridley), Joran Wyseure (Corran-Corendon), Cameron Mason (Seven Racing), Clément Venturini (Arkéa) and Ryan Kamp are on the provisional start list.

Top favorite: Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Outsiders: Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon) and Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Longshots: Eli Iserbyt, Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel), Lars van der Haar (Baloise Glowi Lions) and Toon Aerts (Deschacht-Hens-FSP)

TV broadcast Superprestige Gullegem 2025

Saturday's Superprestige in Gullegem can be followed mainly via Eurosport, which will offer live coverage on the main channel and HBO Max from 1:30 PM (7:30 AM EST) onwards (and will continue with the men's race immediately after the women's). You can also watch it in Belgium on Play Sports and Proximus Pickx.

Read also

📸Pieterse kicks off 2025 with a 'New Year's Dive' in Baal: "How to lose a 10-second lead"

Preview X2O Trophy Koksijde 2025 | Awaiting news on participants

Iserbyt overcomes nerve pain, while Ronhaar struggles with back: : "I cried one hour on the bike"

Cyclo-cross rankings 2024/2025 | Vandeputte makes nice move in Superprestige ranking, excitement among the ladies

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Get every week the latest news about CYCLING in your inbox!

Subscribe