Niels Bastiaens • Wednesday 3 January 2024 at 8.05am
Wout van Aert will conclude the first part of his winter cross on Thursday in Koksijde, but there he will also have to contend with Mathieu van der Poel. In the sand of the dunes will the value ratios probably be respected or will Van Aert suddenly intervene? CyclingFlits look ahead to the battle for men and women.
History
Latest winners in Koksijde
Men
2023: Wout van Aert
2022: no edition of the Duinencross
2021: Eli Iserbyt
2020: canceled due to Covid-19
2019: Mathieu van der Poel
2018: Mathieu van der Poel
2018: Wout van Aert (BK)
2017: Mathieu van der Poel
2016: canceled due to bad weather
2015: Sven Nys
2014: Wout van Aert
Women
2023: Shirin van Anrooij
2021: Annemarie Peggiore
2020: canceled due to Covid-19
2019: Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
2018: Denise Betsema
2018: Sanne Cant (BK)
2017: Maud Kaptheijns
2016: canceled due to bad weather
2015: True I can’t
2014: True I can’t
Last year
X2O Bagni Trophy 2022-2023
Koksijde result, men
1. Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma)
2. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) at 1’38
3. Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon) in 2’07
4. Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) at 2’13
5. Lars van der Haar (Baloise Trek Lions) in 2’21
X2O Bagni Trophy 2022-2023
Koksijde result, women
1. Shirin van Anrooij (Baloise Trek Lions)
2. Fem van Empel (Jumbo-Visma) at 14 years old
3. Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) at 1’09
4. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Deceunink) at 1’52
5. Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) at 2’18
Path
Sand is the code word in Duinencross. He was the course designer Roger Ticket who laid out the lines in the early years. In the 1990s Ticket was succeeded by Walter Maes. Ahead of the 2012 World Cup, they made the first big change: the finish line was moved from Robert Vandammestraat to the airbase area, for safety reasons. Today the starting and finishing areas are still in the same place.
Another change ahead of the 2012 World Cup was the addition of a new dune. The Herygersduin had already been introduced after the 1994 World Cup, the new dune became an additional obstacle and would later also take the name of the second world champion (Niels Albert).
And since 2016, after the Belgian championship, an extra dune has been added as a difficulty, a few hundred meters beyond the finish line. A steep section which has not yet been given a name. Furthermore, the always marshy polder before and after arrival can also cause some differences.
“Despite the changes within the organization, we maintain the same classic path as Koksijde,” says Jan Deramoudt from Véloclub. “I call it the Paris-Roubaix of cyclocross. The sand is so numerous that in fact a completely different discipline emerges. Crossers have a very wide range of possibilities and this is a cross where sand specialists can give their best. We have seen for years that many cyclists enjoy racing here because of the specific route and associated prestige.”
Program and information
Program Thursday 4 January 2024
9.15am: Koksijde Grand Prix – Male debutants, 1st year
10:00: Grand Prix Koksijde – Men’s Novices, 2nd year
11.00: Koksijde Grand Prix – Junior men
12.10pm: X2O Trophy – Promising men
1.45pm: X2O Trophy – Elite female and youth categories
3.00pm: X2O Trophy – Men’s Elite
Position
Robert Vandammestraat, 8670 Koksijde
Public information
The ticket costs 15 euros at the box office. Tickets are also available online through presale on the organization’s website at the price of 12 euros. Pre-sale ends Wednesday 3 January at 11.59pm. Children up to 12 years old can enter for free.
Practical information
Website organisation
X2O Bagni Trophy website
Trophy
X2O Bagni Instagram Trophy
X2O Bagni Facebook Trophy
Favorite men
We are already ready for the penultimate match between the Big Three. Even if in reality the name is a bit dated. Mathieu van der Poel Crost is so dominant right now that the others have no chance early. World champion Van der Poel never really accelerates, but his basic pace is too high.
Or similar Lars van der Haar it states: “You can feel him pick up the pace. The problem is that Mathieu also governs terribly well. So you can’t say that you are driving towards him in a corner, or that you are braking him “outside”. Ultimately, it’s slightly better in every way. Then you are slowly taken to 20 meters and then you know the bird has flown. If he can even lead his lines, you are completely the Sjaak.
Van der Haar regularly finds himself among Van der Poel’s first pursuers, and therefore performs anything but badly. Due to the illness of Eli Iserbyt, who had to miss the heats of Baal and Koksijde, things are also looking better for his overall victory in the X2O Trophy. Teammate Pim Ronhaar we could estimate a slightly higher podium, especially after his impressive cross to Baal, where he was able to follow the Van Aert-Van der Poel tandem for a long time. The other lion of the Baloise Trek, Joris Nieuwenhuis, will not start from Koksijde.
Who does what Mathieu van der Poel? – photo: Cor Vos
So the biggest competition will come from Wout van Aert I have to come. He is not at his best level, but according to his new coach Mathieu Heijboer everything is going according to plan. “There is still a lot of space compared to the best Wouts in cross country. Dare I say: when Wout is at his best, he is at least capable of competing with the best Van der Poel. That’s not the case now, but I think that, given the ambition with which he leads, he still reaches a high level.” So don’t expect a miracle from Koksijde, but Van Aert will do his best.
Van Tom Pidcock we expect less in Koksijde. Sand is far from his passion, and in Baal we also saw some signs of excessive tiredness. Then you have to do it Laurens Sweeck come out better. He is perhaps the biggest sand specialist of the group and Koksijde is one of his favorite courses. European champion Michael Vanthourenhout is also often good in the coastal municipality.
Favorites according to WielerFlits
***Mathieu van der Poel
** Wout van Aert, Pim Ronhaar
*Lars van der Haar, Tom Pidcock, Laurens Sweeck
Favorite women
As for the first favorite among the women, there are still some doubts. Normally he would Fem van Empel she should still be the best contender for victory in Koksijde, but her run-up to the sand race is certainly not optimal. Van Empel won in Baal, but she also hurt her knee, which had to be stitched up later. It is not yet known whether Koksijde will be in danger for the strong world champion. “We will evaluate it in the next few days,” the team told us Monday evening.
A nice duel between Van Empel and Brand – photo: Cor Vos
It’s also nice to have True I can’t to be able to place it high among the stars again. The Belgian has been struggling a bit, but in recent weeks he is doing very well. Cant chooses his races well and becomes a fixture in the top 5 again. Loenhout broke the spell by getting his first win (not counting BCs) since September 2021. Add to that the fact that Cant really likes Sand Cross and Koksijde, and you can tell she’ll be good.
The shadow’s favorites are the sisters Isabella and Ava Holmgren, and above all the latter is doing well. In Baal the 18 year old Canadian was even allowed on stage. Also Annemarie Worst, Denise Betsema and sand specialist Laura Verdonschot we can count ourselves among the outsiders.
Favorites according to WielerFlits
*** Fem van Empel
** Lucinda Brand, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
* Sanne Cant, Ava Holmgren, Laura Verdonschot
Weather and TV
Second Meteorologist It will rain a lot in Koksijde on Thursday. In the morning it remains dry, but then heavy rain falls from the sky. The wind also blows quite strongly, with a force of 5 Beaufort, and the maximum temperature is 9 degrees Celsius.
Spouse will be present on Thursday starting from 1.30pm for the live broadcast of both the male and female Elite cyclists. Dutch viewers can go ten minutes later Eurosport 1 and online channels Eurosport.nl/Discovery+/GCN+.
2024-01-03 08:10:11
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