We’ve all been wowed by the images coming out of Cyclo Cross races, of muddied riders battling first and foremost the weather elements and then each other! For people coming from South Europe, it makes no sense at all to ride in foot-deep mud and freezing conditions, in a - usually - city center course of no more than 3,5km and in uninspiring surroundings. Even more for Cypriot riders, who if it rains, they consider it a perfectly normal excuse for some off the saddle and family time!
All photos UCI
But for Central Europe and especially the Low Countries, during winter Cyclo Cross racing is all that matters in cycling! In the last 10 years, the discipline has enjoyed enormous growth and a lot of publicity. Its races are now attended by the best one-day riders in the world and overflow with action and with nail-biting close battles! Besides the racing action, the Cyclo Cross races are an occasion for day-long parties, packed with cycling fans, enjoying racing and strong Belgian beer which creates a unique atmosphere!
World Cup action!
Despite the Covid-19 complications and restrictions, Cyclo Cross has managed to have a decent season, albeit with less races and usually without any fans. The World Cup, which concluded last weekend in Overijse Belgium, saw tight battles for the crown until the last minute. After five rounds, the World Champions, in both Men and Women Elite, were beaten to second place by the Dutch Lucinda Brand and the Flandrian Wout Van Aert!
2021 Cyclo Cross World Championships - Ostend/Belgium
Next weekend, the Cyclo Cross season will reach its peak with the World Championships being held in Ostend, Belgium. The first Cycling World Championships for 2021! The defending champions Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and Mathieu Van der Poel, both Dutch, will seek to get revenge for the World Cup second places, a job which will not be easy.
In Women Elite, although Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado raced on the front in all the World Cups, a win eluded her until last weekend. She might have managed to peak her performance right on time but it’s sure that her Belgian rivals Sanne Cant and Ellen van Loy as well as her Dutch compatriots Lucinda Brand, Annemarie Worst and of course the queen of Cycling Marianne Voss, will give her a run for her money!
In the Men Elite event, Mathieu Van der Poel will be looking to defend his title after losing the overall win of the World Cup only because he missed the first leg in Tabor. Netherlands most valuable cycling asset will not have an easy Job. His lifelong arch-nemesis, Wout Van Aert, will be looking to reclaim the coveted Rainbow Jersey he already won in 2016, 2017 and 2018! They will both be challenged by Thomas Pidcock, the rising wonderkid from UK, who in 2020 displayed his diverse skillset by winning major races in Road, MTB and Cyclo Cross races!
As its expected, Van Aert and Van der Poel will both have a very strong team supporting them and threating their winning chances at the same time! Last but not least, a mud hero from the past, will also be there to show if he still has the moves! After many cancellations of road races, three times World Champion Zdenek Stybar from Czech Republic will be returning to the World Championships to flex his muscles against the youngsters!
Race Schedule:
Saturday, 30 January 2021
- 13:30 - Men Under 23
- 15:10 - Women Elite
Sunday, February 1st, 2021
- 13:30 - Women Under 23
- 15:10 - Men Elite
See all details of the event in the 2021 Cyclo Cross World Championships - Ostend/Belgium website.
