Preview Superprestige Jaarmarktcross Niel in Belgium 2024 | Nys and Ronhaar absent, but no need to worry

The Jaarmarktcross in Niel is a true classic on the cyclo-cross calendar. It has been organized for many years on its regular date, November 11. Ten kilometers south of Antwerp, it is a big party on the official holiday. The last four years in the men's category have been great successes: a Belgian has managed to win each time.

Eli Iserbyt and Laurens Sweeck played leapfrog, while Mathieu van der Poel managed to win in 2019 and 2018. Among the women, in the past five years, it was first three times to Lucinda Brand, and then twice to encounter the name Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado on the top spot of this Superprestige cross. 

2023 Eli Iserbyt/ Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
2022 Laurens Sweeck / Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
2021 Eli Iserbyt / Lucinda Brand
2020 Laurens Sweeck / Lucinda Brand
2019 Mathieu van der Poel / Lucinda Brand
2018 Mathieu van der Poel / Sanne Cant
2017 Toon Aerts / Nikki Brammeier
2016 Toon Aerts / Sanne Cant
2015 Kevin Pauwels / Sanne Cant
2014 Sven Nys / Sanne Cant

The start and finish of the Jaarmarktcross in Niel will be at the Kwaede Wielstraat, after which they will take the exact same lap as last year. There were quite a few changes then, but the recipe for this cyclo-cross win will thus be kept intact. That means that technique will be central in the first half of the course, while around the Muur van Niel in part two, it is more about pure power.

From the start in the Kwaede Wielstraat, some sharp turns are immediately lined up, followed by the so-called Pearls of Niel. After passing by the VIP and audience tent, the sandbox in the next technical zone takes center stage. Then, we continue our way on the 2,700-meter-long course via the steep descent and the so-called blubber zone.

Afterward, we cross over to the other side of the course, where the showdown lies with the Wall of Niel. Once this has been tamed, five hundred meters remain until the finish. These are along the fishpond De Karper.

Weather
Variable weather conditions are expected in Niel. The weather stations expect a temperature of 11 degrees Celsius and a chance of sunshine, but a strong north wind will probably make it feel much colder.

Times
Start women: 7:40 a.m.
Finish women: 8:25 a.m. 
Start men: 9:10 a.m. 
Finish men: 10:10 a.m. 

No Fem van Empel this weekend, taking some rest after the European Championships and missing the weekend with Lokeren and Niel. And so we soon come to the ladies who have also taken the necessary shine this season and have divided the Jaarmarktcross in Niel neatly over the past five years.

Lucinda Brand won three editions, but the victory went to Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado in the last two years. The Fenix-Deceuninck lady can, therefore, place herself next to her Baloise Trek Lions rival in terms of victories in Niel, but she won't give it away quickly either. Overall, we can look forward to a great battle in Niel.

Sara Casasola, fourth in the standings of the Superprestige, will also be there on behalf of Corendon-Crelan. The same goes for the ladies behind her: Laura Verdonschot (De Ceuster-Bouwpunt) and Inge van der Heijden (Crelan-Corendon), as well as other outsiders such as Aniek van Alphen, Annemarie Worst (Cyclo-cross Reds), Denise Betsema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) and Marion Norbert Riberolle of Crelan-Corendon.

Top favorite: Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Deceuninck)
Outsiders: Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) and Sara Casasola (Crelan-Corendon)
Long shots: Laura Verdonschot (De Ceuster-Bouwpunt), Inge van der Heijden (Crelan-Corendon) and Annemarie Worst (Cyclocross Reds)

Also, in the men's race are those who divided the last editions. Eli Iserbyt won last year and two years before and will again be among the top favorites on behalf of Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal, just as Laurens Sweeck is for Crelan-Corendon. He won two of the last four times.

Judging by the Superprestige ranking, we should also keep an eye on some other gentlemen. Joran Wyseure (Correlan-Corendon) and Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Deceuninck) are together in the lead. However, Lars van der Haar (Baloise Trek Lions) and Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) are still running.

European Championship sensation Felipe Orts is also returning to competition on behalf of Ridley after his excellent performance last weekend, while the rest are looking out for the likes of Toon Aerts (Deschacht-Hens-FSP), Jente Michels (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Kevin Kuhn, Gerben Kuypers (Charles-Liégeois Roastery CX) and Toon Vandebosch (Crelan-Corendon). Thibau Nys is not competing, as is Pim Ronhaar. They only ride Lokeren Sunday.

Top favorite:Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal)
Outsiders: Lars van der Haar (Baloise Trek Lions) and Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Long shots: Joran Wyseure, Laurens Sweeck (Corran-Corendon) and Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal)

Play Sports and Proximus Pickx hold the broadcasting rights to the Superprestige in Belgium. Eurosport (and thus HBO Max) covers it in the Netherlands, broadcasting from 7:30 a.m.