Preview World Cyclo-Cross Championships - Elite Women 2024 | Indeed, who will be able to challenge Van Empel?

It's almost here: the main event of the 2024 cyclo-cross season, the World Cyclo-Cross Championships in Tábor, Czech Republic. This weekend, the global cyclo-cross stars will challenge each other in this town, with the women's title race on Saturday. What do you need to know about it? IDLProCycling.com explains it all in detail!

A glance at the honor roll of the women's World Cyclo-Cross Championships reveals a list dominated by Belgium and the Netherlands – no surprise there. The Dutch have been particularly dominant in recent years in women's cyclo-cross, although there's growing competition from countries less traditionally associated with the sport. Still, the Dutch women, led by reigning champion Fem van Empel, have been in formidable form this winter.

Van Empel secured the world title last season in Hoogerheide in her home province of Brabant. Before her, Marianne Vos (Fayetteville), Lucinda Brand (Oostende), and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Dübendorf) had claimed the prestigious rainbow jersey. This season, Vos won't be participating, but Brand and Alvarado will be there.

Practical Information for the 2024 Women's World Cyclo-Cross Championships

• Saturday, February 3, 2024 
• Participants
  

In this article:

• Most recent winners
• Course, weather and times
• Favorites
• TV information

Recent winners of the women's World Cyclo-Cross Championships

2023 Fem van Empel
2022 Marianne Vos
2021 Lucinda Brand
2020 Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
2019 Sanne Cant
2018 Sanne Cant
2017 Sanne Cant
2016 Thalita de Jong
2015 Pauline Férrand-Prevot
2014 Marianne Vos.

Course, weather and times for the 2024 World Cyclo-Cross Championships

The course for the World Cyclo-Cross Championships in Tábor is familiar territory for many riders, having been a regular fixture on the World Cup circuit and previously hosting the World Championships in 2015, 2010, and 2001. It was most recently put to the test at the Czech National Cyclo-Cross Championships.

Spanning 2950 meters, the course begins with a decent stretch on asphalt before veering into the fields after a gentle curve along the Luznice River. Riders then face a bridge ascent and descent, leading to the course's first minor technical challenge. The route then doubles back over the bridge, entering a section filled with twists and turns.

The track then gradually starts ascending in the Czech fields, with the hurdles strategically placed just before the first serious ascent. Here, the key is to either maintain or lose momentum. Riders then approach the pits for the first time, where the track begins to climb in several stages.

For most of the final quarter of the lap, the focus is on navigating the numerous twists and turns, although the Tábor course generally offers good visibility. The course's real descent towards the finish line starts near the end, where after several laps, we will discover who will be adorned in the coveted rainbow jersey.

Weather
Riders will have little to complain about in terms of weather conditions this weekend. Both Saturday and Sunday will see temperatures well above zero, so we can expect fast cyclo-cross races. There's hardly any chance of rain, but the wind could pick up moderately to strongly from the west.

Times
Start: 2:35 pm
Finish: 3:20 pm

Favorites for the 2024 women's World Cyclo-Cross Championships

It's no surprise that Fem van Empel is considered the top favorite for the title in Tábor. The Dutch rider from Visma | Lease a Bike has been dominant this winter on her cyclo-cross bike and seems to be back in top form in 2024 after a period of setbacks. She won her last three races in Benidorm, Hamme, and Hoogerheide, rightfully earning the status of the top favorite.

The race dynamics are also influenced by the recent misfortunes of her closest competitors. Lucinda Brand, Puck Pieterse, and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado were nipping at Van Empel's heels at the end of 2023, but various issues have hindered their performance in 2024. Brand is recovering from a nose fracture suffered in Zonhoven but still poses a significant threat, Pieterse has been dealing with illness leading up to Hoogerheide, and Alvarado has been battling ongoing back issues.

Last week in West Brabant, Hungary's Blanka Kata Vas made headlines by securing her first World Cup podium finish, catapulting herself into the list of contenders for Tábor. Given her road racing prowess and quick pace, she’s expected to perform well on the fast Czech circuit.

Representing Belgium, the in-form Laura Verdonschot and the evergreen Sanne Cant are in contention for a top spot, likely battling it out with other Dutch riders like Manon Bakker, Inge van der Heijden, Annemarie Worst, Denise Betsema, and Aniek van Alphen. Italian European Championships surprise Sara Casasola and Britain's Anna Kay will also be looking to make their mark, while the course seems less suited for North American riders like Maghalie Rochette (Canada) and Clara Honsinger (USA).

Who are, according to IDLProCycling.com, the favorites for the 2024 Women's World Cyclo-Cross Championships?

Top favorite: Fem van Empel (Netherlands)
Outsiders: Lucinda Brand, Puck Pieterse (Netherlands) 
Long shots: Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Netherlands), Blanka Kata Vas (Hungary) and Laura Verdonschot (Belgium)

TV coverage of the 2024 women's World Cyclo-Cross Championships

The World Cyclo-Cross Championships this weekend can be followed on Eurosport (both the main channel and Eurosport.nl/Discovery+), Sporza (VRT 1), and the NOS (via NPO and nos.nl). IDLProCycling.com will provide comprehensive coverage throughout the event, including reports and all relevant information from Tábor.