Felipe Orts and Kevin Suárez in males and Lucía González and Sofía Rodríguez in women they will be the Spanish reference to Cyclocross World Championship which will take place this weekend in Tabor (Czech Republic), where the current rainbow jersey, Dutchman Mathieu Van der Poel, will start as the big favourite.
The famous Tabor circuit will serve as the closing tradition of the season of the winter cycling discipline par excellence. That scenario is perhaps the one that offers Van der Poel a sixth world title, almost unparalleled this season. In the absence of his most direct rivals, Wout Van Aert and Tom Pidcock, he is the clear favorite to wear the rainbow jersey.
If Van der Poel focuses on the men’s category, there is no doubt in the women’s category either, as his compatriot Fem van Empel, winner of 17 out of 19 races, leaves little room for surprise.
VAN DER POEL MAKES A WAY INTO HISTORY
Van der Poel (Kepellen, 29 years old), traveled to Tabor full of joy. He won 12 out of 13 races contested. Only in the Benidorm World Cup did he retire due to engine problems and was defeated by Van Aert.
Alpecin phenom Deceuninck currently has five CX world titles to his name, and one more would make him the second most successful male rider in the history of the discipline.
Among Van der Poel’s rivals is Belgian Eli Iserbyt, winner of the World Cup and 8 events this season. The form shown in Benidorm two weeks ago suggests he will be among Tabor’s best, and will probably make things difficult for the favourite.
After winning the Belgian national title, Iserbyt won the Otegem race before placing fourth at the World Cup round in Benidorm. He then finished third in the X2O Badkamer Trofee Flandriencross behind Van der Poel, before finishing fifth in the World Cup round at Hoogerheide behind the Flying Dutchman.
FEM VAN EMPEL, RUNNER TO BEAT
The reigning world champion is the rider to beat, having won 17 of the races he has entered so far, including three rounds of the World Cup.
But Van Empel was answered in Benidorm by his compatriot Puck Pieterse, who finished second after a great duel. And of course, we also have to count on Dutch-born Dominican Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, who won the World Cup.
FELIPE ORTS WENT TO THE TOP TEN
The Spanish team is bringing 15 cyclists to the Tabor World Championship: eight in the junior category, three sub-23 and four elite. The asset is six-time national champion Felipe Orts, in a sweet moment of form after ninth place in the Benidorm World Cup.
Due to the aforementioned absences, the Vila Joiosa cyclist must take advantage of a unique opportunity at the Tabor circuit, where rain is expected. Orts will emerge as an elite team with Kevin Suárez.
On the women’s side, Spain’s 6-time champion, Asturian Lucía González, is looking to break into the top 15, and will complete the women’s team with Sofía Rodríguez.
A TECHNICAL CIRCUIT
Unlike last year’s circuit in Hoogerheide, the route favors technical aspects more than raw power. It starts with asphalt that will allow a quick exit, before two ramps and a series of steep climbs. From there it continues through a series of tight, winding curves that will force cyclists to brake before climbing into a wooded area where they will find two stairways.
Once there, they can see the finish line, but first they have to overcome a series of obstacles followed by another steep ramp before getting back on track and running towards the line.
TEST SCHEDULES:
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3
11:00 am – Women’s Junior Race
12:30 pm – Men’s U23 race
2:30 pm – Women’s Elite Race
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4
11:00 am – Junior men’s race
12:30 pm – Women’s U23 race
2:30 pm – Men’s Elite Race
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
