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Last year, the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup visited Ireland for the first time in the history of the competition. This Sunday, Dublin is once again hosting a World Cup race for the second consecutive year, aiming to solidify the event on the calendar. However, this time, the starting lists for the elite races will not be as filled with stars as they were last year.

Men's race: the favorites

The winner of last year's men's race, Wout Van Aert (1200), has not yet made his cyclo-cross debut this year and will not start in Dublin. Thomas Pidcock (1000) and Mathieu Van Der Poel (1200), who have also not raced yet this season, will also be absent, as well as one of the most in-form riders this year, Lars Van Der Haar (1200). Therefore, the starting list will be led by the current World Cup leader, Eli Iserbyt (1200), and alongside him, Michael Vanthourenthout (1200), Laurens Sweeck (1200), Pim Ronhaar (600), and Thibau Nys (400) are other notable names.

Women's race: the favorites

The only three cyclists who won World Cup races last year, Fem Van Empel (1200), Puck Pieterse (1200), and Shirin Van Anrooij (1200), are also skipping this race this time. In the absence of these three cyclists, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (1000), the current leader of the World Cup, emerges as the clear favorite. Lucinda Brand (1200) is expected to be Alvarado's primary competitor that we can find on the start list, which also features other notable cyclists such as Inge Van Der Heijden (1000), Zoe Backstedt (400), Aniek Van Alphen (800), and Sara Casasola (200).

Photo: © UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup