Preview World Cup Zonhoven 2024 | Watch and enjoy Mathieu van der Poel's return!

The cross boss is back: we waited a long time, but Mathieu van der Poel is finally there. The Dutch rider has marked the World Cup of Zonhoven as the cyclo-cross race where he will show himself for the first time this winter, and his fans are eagerly awaiting his return. But Mathieu is undoubtedly not the only contender to keep an eye on. IDLProCycling.com glances ahead for you.

Zonhoven is one of the young classics on the cyclo-cross calendar but already one with stature. This has everything to do with the presence of the so-called Kuil, where the public is treated to a spectacular piece of cyclo-cross. This dive in the sand is perhaps the closest thing to the feeling you get in a big sports stadium.

It is not surprising that Van der Poel, who has already won here four times, likes to make his entrance into Zonhoven. Other big names such as Sven Nys, Niels Albert, Bart Wellens, Zdenek Stybar, Kevin Pauwels, Wout van Aert, and Toon Aerts are also on the list of winners (more than once), making the importance of the less than 20-year-old cyclocross race immediately clear. This race is also popular among women, as we have seen in recent years with Puck Pieterse and Shirin van Anrooij and earlier, especially with Sanne Cant.

Latest winners World Cup Zonhoven

2023/2024 Mathieu van der Poel / Puck Pieterse
2022/2023 Wout van Aert / Shirin van Anrooij
2021/2022 Toon Aerts / Denise Betsema
2020/2021 Canceled 
2019/2020 Toon Aerts / Annemarie Worst
2018/2019 Mathieu van der Poel / Sanne Cant
2017/2018 Mathieu van der Poel / Maud Kaptheijns
2016/2017 Mathieu van der Poel / Sanne Cant
2015/2016 Wout van Aert / Sanne Cant
2014/2015 Kevin Pauwels / Sanne Cant

Course, weather and times World Cup Zonhoven 2024

After the significant changes in January 2023, the Zonhoven cyclo-cross race remained almost identical in terms of the course. The course then got an extra feature called the 'Kuil,' which was a great success. This was not changed in late 2024 either, which benefits the overall experience of the spectators on Sunday.

After starting at the Termolen landfill, the first descent of the sand mountain follows, which has to be ascended again on another section of the course. Furthermore, this year's cyclo-cross course consists of some passages in the surrounding woods and some small hills, but in the end, it's all about the now-famous dive through the sand.

Weather
Rain is expected in Zonhoven on Sunday, making conditions less than ideal. In Limburg, Belgium, the temperature is barely 5 or 6 degrees Celsius.

Times (Sunday, Dec. 22)
Start women: 1:40 PM locally (7:40 AM EST)
Finish women: 2:30 PM locally (8:30 AM EST)
Start men: 3:10 PM locally (9:10 AM EST)
Finish men: 4:10 PM locally (10:10 AM EST)

Favorites women World Cup Zonhoven 2024

Well, who could be a top favorite? Puck Pieterse has shown her skills and has the best track record in Zonhoven over the past two years, although last season's edition is not quite representative. Pieterse won that time and came second the year before behind Shirin van Anrooij, who, for some well-known reason, is not here at all this winter on behalf of Lidl-Trel.

So Pieterse has won here once, but the same is not true of the other three top favorites. Lucinda Brand, Fem van Empel, and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado all do not yet have Zonhoven on their list of honors. Brand will be eager for revenge on behalf of Baloise Trek Lions after breaking her nose in a nasty fall in this cross earlier this year.

Van Empel did not ride at all last year, but after all her achievements, we can certainly count her among the biggest contenders. The same goes for Alvarado, who could still win in Namur in the Fenix-Deceuninck shirt. Alvarado has already finished among the best three in Zonhoven three times but has not yet won. Maybe this year?

Last season Inge van de Heijden (Corelan-Corendon) and Zoe Backstedt (Canyon//SRAM) were on the podium, which they would probably sign up for again in a moment. And so there are others, including SD Worx-Protime duo Blanka Vas and Marie Schreiber, Cyclo-cross Reds rider Annemarie Worst, Sara Casasola (Crelan-Corendon) from Italy, northern Dutch Pauwels Sauzen ladies Leonie Bentveld and Denise Betsema and the talented sisters Holmgren.

Top favorite: Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck)
Outsiders: Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) and Fem van Empel (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Long shots: Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Deceuninck), Zoe Backstedt (Canyon//SRAM), Inge van der Heijden (Corran-Corendon) and Blanka Vas (SD Worx-Protime)

Favorites men World Cup Zonhoven 2024

Among the elite men, Sunday focuses mainly on one man: Mathieu van der Poel, the world champion in the Alpecin-Deceuninck shirt. The Dutch rider will compete in Zonhoven in his first of 11 cyclo-cross events this winter and immediately starts as the top favorite, knowing that he may be a lot fresher than the competitors without Hulst in his legs. De Kuil feels like a playground for him, but in early 2023, he didn't quite pan out in Zonhoven due to circumstances.

It's anyone's guess how Van der Poel will be at the start, so it's up to our competitors to start this cyclo-cross race with panache. First, we think of Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) and Toon Aerts (Deschacht-Hens-FSP), creating an outstanding series. Vanthourenhout won more in recent weeks, but Aerts crossed the finish line in Zonhoven twice with his hands in the air.

They are certainly not the only ones who will smell their chance. Pim Ronhaar, on behalf of Baloise Trek Lions, is increasingly able to compete for the win, whereas Thibau Nys and Lars van der Haar had a slightly more challenging time in the weeks leading up to Zonhoven. Van der Haar has been on the podium three times in this race so that he can do it.

The same goes for Laurens Sweeck of Corelan-Corendon, the sand bunny par excellence. He finished in the top three four times but could not win in Zonhoven. That team still has strong men on board with Joran Wyseure and surprise Emiel Verstrynge. Other interesting figures are Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal), who is suffering from nerve pain, and Felipe Orts of Ridley, who is used to sand in Spain. By the way, Wout van Aert is not participating yet; he will join the race in Mol on Monday.

Top favorite: Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Outsiders: Michael Vanthourenhoiut (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) and Toon Aerts (Deschacht-Hens-FSP)
Long shots: Pim Ronhaar, Thibau Nys (Baloise Trek Lions), Laurens Sweeck (Corran-Corendon) and Felipe Orts (Ridley)

TV broadcast World Cup Zonhoven 2024

Eurosport will begin broadcasting the men's and women's races at 1:30 PM (7:30 EST) on Eurosport 1, HBO Max, and Discovery+. Sporza will also be on VRT1 from 1:30 PM (7:30 EST). The cyclo-cross race will also be streamed live on NOS.nl.

Read also

Preview World Cup Hulst 2024 | Last chance for Aerts, Nys, and co for now? Intense battle among the women!

Aerts calls himself a 'Neo-pro' and looks ahead to facing "those two rascals," Wout van Aert and Mathieu Van der Poel: "Not delusional to think I'll beat them"

Van der Poel and Van Aert are "icing on the cake," but also reason for precautionary measures

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