World Cup Hoogerheide – final test before the worlds

The GP Adrie van der Poel in Hoogerheide serves as the last major ‘cross World Cup event ahead of the world championships in Hulst, the Netherlands. scheduled for one week later. The race features both men’s and women’s elite categories on a course that has remained largely unchanged over the years, designed by Adrie van der Poel with Marc Dierickx. Riders will start and finish on the ascending Scheldeweg, passing the field, the wooded section of the Brabantse Wal, and the technical sections including the “Stairway to Heaven” descent.

Mathieu van der Poel has dominated his dad’s race, winning multiple times since 2015. Lucinda Brand has also taken multiple dubs, including the last edition.

The men’s field includes van der Poel, Thibau Nys, Tibor del Grosso, Joris Nieuwenhuis, Lars van der Haar and Niels Vandeputte. Van der Haar and Michael Vanthourenhout are returning from personal or health-related breaks. For the Canucks, there’s Scott Cody and Cameron Jette.

In the women’s race, Brand leads the entry list. Other competitors include Puck Pieterse, Kata Blanka Vas, Amandine Fouquenet, Shirin van Anrooij and Leonie Bentveld. Dutch champion Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado will not compete. Team Canada is fielding a strong group of women: Nico Knoll, Dorothee Peron, Sidney McGill, Rafaelle Carrier and national champ Maghalie Rochette. This race marks Rochette’s first race back in Europe.

Canada is well-represented in both the junior men’s and women’s races. For the lads, Emilien Belzile, Farland Lamont, Grayson Franks, and Sagan Goertz will toe the line. For the lasses, Alexa Haviland and Claire MacKinnon carry the maple leaf. In the under-23 men’s race, Rhett Bates and Mathis Duval will giv’er.

You can watch the elite men’s and women’s races on Flobikes.com. Coverage starts at 7:30 a.m. EST. If you miss that, check back here on Canadian Cycling Magazine for results and reports from all the races. And don’t forget, there’s also World Cup action in Belgium on Saturday! So much ‘cross!

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