One of the most exciting editions of the Cyclo-Cross European Championships will be held on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 November in Col du Vam – Drenthe (Netherlands). In a country very devoted and passionate about Cyclo-Cross, in terms of practicing the discipline as well as organising high-level events, for two days the best specialists will battle it out in one of the most important meetings of the first part of the winter season.
323 athletes from 19 countries are registered for the continental event where six titles will be for the taking: Men Elite (39 registered), Men Under 23 (70 registered), Men Juniors (82 registered), Women Elite (37 registered), Women Under 23 (40 registered) and Women Juniors (55 registered).
In the Men’s Elite, the rider to beat will undoubtedly be the current European champion, the Belgian Eli Iserbyt, who has had an excellent start to the season already with three wins, second and third place in the World Cup raced so far. The strong Belgian team also has very experienced riders like Michael Vanthourenhout, Quinten Hermans and Toon Aerts, meanwhile Lars van der Haar will be the athlete to beat for the Netherlands.
In the Women’s events, the Netherlands will be in the line-up with all the favourites such as Denise Betsema, leader of the World Cup ranking, Lucinda Brand, Annemarie Worst and the 2020 European Champion Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado. The Dutch will have to be on their guard for the young Hungarian Kata Blanka Vas, who is currently in great form as demonstrated by her win at the last World Cup, the Belgian Sanne Cant and the French rider Hélène Clauzel.
Ryan Kamp (Netherlands), winner of the title last year, will be one of the favourites in the Under 23s with his compatriot Pim Ronhaar, the Belgians Niels Vandeputte and Thibau Nys (Road European Champion) and the Briton Cameron Mason. In the Women’s, Puck Pieterse (Netherlands) will be defending the jersey she won last year in a race where she will compete against among others her compatriot Shirin van Anrooij and the French rider Line Buquier.
The two Juniors races will also be interesting thanks to the numerous, qualified riders taking part.
Enrico Della Casa, President of the Union Européenne de Cyclisme: «The Cyclo-Cross European Championships are the last meeting of the season in the UEC’s event calendar which coincide with one of the most important first events of the season for this discipline on an international level. Europe has always been regarded as the home of Cyclo-Cross and we will witness this in a few days in one of most symbolic places for this discipline.
I would like to thank the Dutch Cycling Federation, its President Wouter Bos, Drenthe Province, with Henk Brink, and above all the organisers, Courage Events in co-operation with Libéma Profcycling, our historic partner in the organisation of major events in the Netherlands.»
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