• Saturday 13 January 2024 at 10pm
The Cyclocross Championships in Meulebeke promise to be perhaps the most exciting championship in recent years. Rarely has it been more difficult to predict the outcome of the national title fight. Michael Vanthourenhout, Thibau Nys, Laurens Sweeck or Eli Iserbyt? CyclingFlits looks ahead.
History
Latest winners of the Cyclocross Championships, men
2023: Michael Vanthourenhout
2022: Wout van Aert
2021: Wout van Aert
2020: Laurens Sweeck
2019: Toon Aerts
2018: Wout van Aert
2017: Wout van Aert
2016: Wout van Aert
2015: Klaas Vantornout
2014: Sven Nys
Last year
Cyclocross Championships in Lokeren
Men’s result
1. Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauces-Bingoal)
2. Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Fristads) at 2 seconds
3. Thibau Nys (Baloise Trek Lions) at 1’42
4. Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) at 2’29
5. Gerben Kuypers at 2’39
Path
In 2021, Wout van Aert and Sanne Cant became Belgian champions in the West Flanders municipality. It was a typical meadow cross, something we will see again this year. “The path is essentially the same. Compared to the previous edition of the cross (not the BC, ed.) we have made some changes. We have chosen, among other things, to expand the route a little further. This depends above all on the public,” explains Anthony Verwilst, general coordinator in Meulebeke.
“Also, a sandbox and a passage above the beams were added. But in general it remains the same cross. Meulebeke is and remains a fast and technical cross. The previous weeks it was obviously very muddy, but the situation has changed again. This weekend the surface will be predominantly hard. Some lanes will be a little heavier than usual, but in principle we will not see a slow intersection.”
The two sandboxes, one of which is new, are both 40 meters long. “We chose not to leave any traces in the sandbox. Before and after each crossing we will remove all existing tracks, so that the sandboxes are not too easy to reach. I therefore expect the decision to be made in the second sandbox at the latest.”
“After that sandbox there is also a long strip without too many curves, which can make a difference. This is followed by the right-angled bridge and the passage on the sloping side. They then run onto the athletics track, where they run a half lap. After the curve of the runway there is still around 100 meters to the line, which is still on the runway. If there are still riders together it will be a strange sprint.”
However, Verwilst does not expect the latter scenario. There are enough points on the course to make a difference, such as the sandbox. Who is proposing the course? “I know Eli Iserbyt is looking forward to competing in the Belgian Championships on this course, but Michael Vanthourenhout will also be able to do it well.”
Program and information
Program Sunday 14 January 2024
10:00: Freshmen rookies, guys
11:00: New sophomores, guys
1.45pm: Promises, guys
3.15pm: Elite, men
Position
Domain Ter Borcht, Ingelmunstersesteenweg 11, Meulebeke
Public information
The ticket for Sunday costs 20 euros. Children up to 12 years old can enter for free.
Practical information
Website organisation
Participants
Favorites
The nice thing about this BK cyclocross is that there is no real top favorite waiting. About two weeks ago, the expected man had always been Eli Iserbyt, but the illness seriously compromised his optimal condition. And so we can look forward to the battle for the title with four riders who we put more or less on equal terms.
Has Iserbyt recovered from his illness? – photo: Cor Vos
Let’s start with That is, Iserbyt yourself. He had a shock about two weeks ago when he had to abandon the race ill in the Hulst cross-country race and shortly afterwards ended up in the hospital emergency room. After the necessary rest, a rather uncertain Iserbyt returned to the field on Sunday in the World Cup in Zonhoven. His ambitions were fueled again by sixth place. “I want to do my best, but I definitely won’t start as the favourite. I didn’t feel good enough about that. Miracles can happen in a week, that’s what I hope,” Iserbyt said in front of our camera after the cross in Zonhoven. Honestly? Iserbyt deserves such a miracle, after his fantastic half-season.
The number two favorite also comes from the Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal camp. Michael Vanthourenhout he has to do it the same way Klaas Vantornout did it twice for the same team. They remain largely in the background during the Christmas period, and then reach the perfect peak around that day. Of course, Vanthourenhout didn’t do it on purpose: injuries and illnesses put a damper on his season. But it’s a fact: on championship day, the reigning champion can always do something more than some competitors. At the beginning of this cross season he proved this once again at the European Championships in Pontchâteau. The form is there, otherwise you won’t win at Gullegem.
Same story with Laurens Sweeck. The Crelan-Corendon runner is far from disappointing on his routes, but there can be no question of truly high form. In Zonhoven we saw signs of the best Sweeck for the first time in a long time, which could indicate that things will get together just in time for the Schriek rider. “It just didn’t work. “He started out bad and did well a few times, but never consistently. We now seek confirmation that things are improving. Koksijde wasn’t bad, but today I confirm that I’m going in the right direction”, he sounded hopeful after the dress rehearsal in Zonhoven.
Young Thibau Nys had a free day in Koksijde – photo: Cor Vos
With favorite number four Thibau Nys. The term “ups and downs” was invented for him. The young Nys can easily win due to force majeure, but he can also easily abandon the race with broken legs. Yet there is a problem with the shape of the whiskers of Baloise Trek lions. “But everything will have to go well for Thibau,” says Father Sven. “He has shown that he can win, but that happened some time ago. On the other hand, in Diegem and Baal he showed that he is very close to a high level. If that level is touched, then there are possibilities.” Nys bets especially on the podium, but for us he is definitely a candidate for the title.
Realistically, one of these four will win in Meulebeke on Sunday. But also Niels Vandeputte he is impatient. In international cross-country skiing races it is a fixture between positions five and ten, but in a BK it automatically goes up a few positions. The same goes for the ex-promised world champion Joran Wyseure, which becomes more and more regular in its progress. They are both very technical riders. The same can’t be said of Toon Vandebosch or road cyclists Gianni Vermeersch and Quinten Hermans, but they won’t fall far from the podium either.
Favorites according to WielerFlits
***Michael Vanthourenhout
** Eli Iserbyt, Laurens Sweeck
* Thibau Nys, Niels Vandeputte, Joran Wyseure
List of participants
Weather and TV
No more freezing temperatures in Meulebeke over the weekend, but it won’t be hot. The temperature would rise up to 4 degrees Celsius, and there is also a 55% chance of limited precipitation. The wind is blowing at 3 Beaufort from the west.
Spouse broadcasts the promises of men and male elites from 1.30pm.
2024-01-13 21:00:00
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