Van Empel and co, watch out! These two are eager to shake up Dutch cyclo-cross supremacy this winter

We have seen Sara Casasola shine several times in recent weeks among all this Dutch power. Anyone who wouldn't know any better would think the Italian must be a young talent coming into the elite ranks this season. Not so. Casasola turns 25 at the end of November, so she has been around for quite a while. For years, that was in the mid-range of cyclo-cross because the rider from San Daniele del Friuli had already made her entrance in the winter of 2021.

You will see many victories if you look past those results outside the top ten in Belgian World Cups. Over the years, Casasola has achieved these goals mostly in her own country, Italy, where, according to her, they do not take cyclo-cross very seriously. In 2019, she had already become the Italian U23 champion, a year after she broke through a bit with a sixth place at the World Championships for U23s in Valkenburg. She never got to the top in the U 23, so the jump to the elite category in season 2022/2023 was pretty tough.

Casasola rode (and won) mainly crosses in her own country and Switzerland and only one year later joined more often in the Belgian crosses. That only really went well last winter. Almost everywhere in the top ten, something that Corelan-Corendon noticed. "It feels like my pro career is just starting now," she told Wielerflits about her three-year contract. The Roodhooft brothers' team now lets Casasola come to Belgium more often from Italy, which shows in the results. Second in Essen, third in Overijse and on the Koppenberg, and fourth in Ruddervoorde and at the European Championships. Casasola is showing herself!

So, there are two podium finishes already, which is something Casasola will have to get used to. When she finished third at Koppenberg in Belgium, the feeling was no longer ecstatic but merely very satisfied. "I had hoped I would perform well because I like tough races. Today was tough, so I'm happy with a podium finish. I had a bad moment, so I rode my own pace. The pace of Fem and Lucinda was too high, but in the end, I was able to ride away from Kata Blanka Vas for the podium, so I'm happy with that," she analyzed at the time.

By Fem and Lucinda, of course, she is referring to Fem van Empel and Lucinda Brand. And count Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado among them. Three Dutch riders seem invincible to the rest, fighting out who wins among themselves. Casasola was already boldly interfering. "It is a surprise that I am competing with the best and in good shape. I'm happy with that; I hope I can build on it. I hope to match them better in a few weeks."

Casasola is still going full steam ahead this winter for more and higher scores. The transition from Italy to Belgium, although she still lives in Italy, is going more and more smoothly. "For now, it's not bad at all, the first month here in Belgium," she laughs when asked if she can already get used to Belgian cuisine and life. "My boyfriend has also come here, making me feel a little more at home. Otherwise, the team will make me feel comfortable, so it's not hard to be here in Belgium for a long time."

Casasola can hopefully look forward to more non-Dutch input in women's cyclo-cross soon. Zoe Bäckstedt will start there again on behalf of CANYON//SRAM in Lokeren (Belgium), and we will then also see her in Merksplas (Belgium) (November 16), Hamme (Belgium) (November 17), Antwerp (Belgium) (November 24) and Dublin (December 1). The 20-year-old British rider secured the world title in the U23 women's race at the beginning of this year and did so with a time that would have put her close to the podium among the pros. Should Bäckstedt have improved, she may become an essential factor in the upcoming cyclo-cross races.

The British rider ended her road season well with a third place overall and a stage win at the Simac Ladies Tour. "The end of my road season was better than expected," said Magnus Bäckstedt's daughter. "It excites me for the cyclo-cross season, knowing I have some good form for the first races. I must dial in the technical aspects and am ready to go!" This year's World Cup program is compressed into less than two and a half months.

The busy schedule is the fuse that should set off the fireworks at the cyclo-cross World Championships in February. It will be the highlight of the cyclo-cross season for Bäckstedt, who aims to defend her world title there. February 2, 2025, in Liévin, France. That date is marked in red for her. 'One of the biggest goals will be the World Championships near my home in Belgium. Hopefully, fingers crossed, it will be a course I like! But the most important thing for this season is to enjoy it and give everything in every race. The road season didn't go 100 percent as planned, so I want to take each race as it comes.'

Bram van der Ploeg (Twitter: @BvdPloegg | e-mail: [email protected])