First of all, we would like to wish everyone who is part of this great Cycling Fantasy community a new year filled with happiness alongside your loved ones. That said, a new road season is fast approaching, but before that, cyclocross will kick off the year in the game with the World Cup race in Zonhoven next Sunday.

 
Course

The Zonhoven circuit is one of the most anticipated on the calendar, as it includes the legendary De Kuil, a giant sand pit where crowds gather and which provides some of the most iconic images of the cyclocross season year after year.

 
Women’s race favourites

At 36 years old, Lucinda Brand (1200) is enjoying the season of her life, and anything other than another victory from her would be a surprise. Puck Pieterse (1200), Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (1200), Inge van der Heijden (1000), Zoe Bäckstedt (1000), Shirin van Anrooij (800), Amandine Fouquenet (400) and Aniek van Alphen (400) make up an interesting list of contenders aiming to dethrone Brand.

 
Men’s race favourites

Like Lucinda Brand, Mathieu van der Poel (1200) has also proven unbeatable this season and starts as the overwhelming favourite. Thibau Nys (1000), Wout van Aert (1200), Tibor Del Grosso (400), Emiel Verstrynge (600), Michael Vanthourenhout (1200), Toon Aerts (800), Niels Vandeputte (800), Cameron Mason (400), Felipe Orts (600), Jente Michels (200) and Lars van der Haar (1000) are names to keep in mind for our team.

 
Photo: © UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup