News

If last week it was Mathieu Van Der Poel (1000) who made his debut in the 2022-2023 Cyclo-cross World Cup (and did so with victory, in Hulst), this Sunday it will be the turn of his lifelong rival, Wout Van Aert (1200). The circuit chosen by Van Aert is that of Antwerp, just 30 kilometers from his hometown, Herentals, where we will finally see together for the first time this season the three great cyclo-cross dominators of recent years gathered in the same race: Thomas Pidcock (1000), Mathieu Van Der Poel (1000) and Wout Van Aert (1200) himself.

Route

For the first time ever, the Antwerp circuit becomes part of the World Cup, although it is a circuit with history, since it has hosted top-level races since 2005. It is the race known as Scheldecross, a fast layout where the long sections on sand on the banks of the Scheldt (the river known as Schelde in Flemish) usually make the difference.

Favorites women’s race

Puck Pieterse (1200) and Fem Van Empel (1200) have been the two great dominators of the current World Cup and start as the main favorites for the women's race. Other contenders for victory are Lucinda Brand (1200), Ceilyn del Carmen Alvarado (1000), Shirin Van Anrooij (1000) and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (200).

Favorites men's race

As we were saying, the three superstars Wout Van Aert (1200), Mathieu Van Der Poel (1000) and Thomas Pidcock (1000) start as top favorites for the men's event. Michael Vanthourenthout (1200), Eli Iserbyt (1200), Lars Van Der Haar (1200) and Laurens Sweeck (1000) have been protagonists during the first rounds of the World Cup, but it seems difficult that they can win against the three gifted riders.