Mathieu van der Poel will be at the start of the World Cup race in Maasmechelen on Saturday, January 25 and in Hoogerheide a day later. The cyclo-cross world champion missed the last cyclo-cross races due to a rib injury. Van der Poel sees next weekend as the ideal preparation for the World Cup a week later in Liévin, France.
In Maasmechelen, a large part of the elite men’s selection consists of people from Brabant. In addition to Van der Poel, Ryan Kamp from Roosendaal, Mees Hendrikx (Valkenswaard), Corné van Kessel (Veldhoven), Danny van Lierop (Someren) and Guus van den Eijnden (Gemert) will also compete.
In Hoogerheide, Van der Poel, Kamp, Hendrikx and Van Kessel start with the elite men, Van Lierop and Van den Eijnden with the U23. Bailey Groenendaal from Schijndel also takes action there.
Extra competition Fox
Among the women, Marianne Vos is a surprise in Maasmechelen. The experienced cyclist was only going to start in Hoogerheide, but has added the race in Belgium to her program. “Maasmechelen’s extra points could lead to a better starting position at the world championships and she is committed to that,” says national coach Gerben de Knegt on the cycling association’s website.
READ ALSO: Marianne Vos’s hunger has not yet been satisfied: ‘I will continue to innovate.’
In Maasmechelen, 18-year-old Sara Sonnemans from Someren also gets the chance. In addition, world champion Fem van Empel (Den Dungen), Inge van der Heijden (Schaijk) and Aniek van Alphen (Hapert) will be at the start in Belgium and Hoogerheide.
After Hoogerheide, the national coach will announce his selection for the World Cup on February 1 and 2 in France. “There are still a few riders, especially among the young people, who can earn a World Cup starting spot.”
READ ALSO: Cyclocross rider Fem van Empel wins in Benidorm, Marianne Vos fourth.