Preview: UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Zonhoven

The first UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup of the year takes place this weekend with the series heading for Zonhoven for the first of its last three rounds for the 2023/24 season. After the busy Christmas period, we’re heading into the back end of the CX season now, with just a few weeks of racing left - albeit important ones, with national championships, World Championships and the culmination of the World Cup still to come.

Initially set to be another ‘big three’ showdown, Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) are set to miss the round in Zonhoven, leaving the unbeaten Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) as the out-and-out favourite for the men’s race.

Read more: Tom Pidcock sidelined from cyclo-cross, only one race left on programme

In the women’s field, the competition has been tight over the festive period, and with Fem van Empel (Visma-Lease a Bike) absent, Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) will be gunning for the win along with several other key rivals.

With the iconic - and demanding - sand of the Zonhoven course waiting, and World Cup titles up for grabs over the next few weeks, Sunday’s races are set to be exciting. Here’s what you need to know.

The course

© UCI

The course in Zonhoven

The spaghetti-like course in Zonhoven weaves through various different terrain, including grass, mud, and a foray into the sandy dunes. Some sections of the course are covered in just a thin layer of sand, but others feature deep and loose sand, susceptible to huge ruts and very difficult to control a bike through.

The defining points in Zonhoven are the two sandy descents, where it’s more a case of careering down a steep channel in the sand rather than picking your own line or direction. These downhills are fertile ground for crashes and can see even the most talented of bike handlers go over the bars.

Elsewhere on the course, it’s fairly flat and wide, so the racing can be quite open, but the sandy ramps and descents are enough to be decisive. The finish line is on a flat tarmac section, so ripe for a sprint if it comes down to it, but Zonhoven can often be a case of last rider standing.

The contenders

The men's race will have only one winner, barring accident or misfortune, and that man is Mathieu van der Poel, who is not only coming into the weekend on the back of a nine-race winning streak, but is also the best rider in the world on sandy courses.

Time and time again over the last couple of months, when sandpits have reared their heads, Van der Poel has put the rest of the field to the sword. With not even Wout van Aert able to push him close in recent weeks, we can't expect any of the other riders to significantly challenge him in Zonhoven.

Instead, the intrigue in the men's race will have to be saved for the battle for the podium, which certainly does look open in the absence of Van Aert and Tom Pidcock - although the latter has admittedly struggled for form anyway.

Baloise Trek Lions may be the frontrunners to seal second place, with young Pim Ronhaar having the best season of his fledgling career to date. The 22-year-old sits third in the UCI World Cup rankings after taking his first two victories this season, at Dendermonde and Dublin, respectively. Over the last two X2O Trofee rounds, Ronhaar has notched up two podium placings behind Van der Poel and Van Aert, and we can expect him to be right at the forefront again on Sunday.

© Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images

Pim Ronhaar has very quickly developed into one of the best riders in the world

If not Ronhaar, they will look to Lars van der Haar, who has been incredibly consistent all season but is without a win since October, Joris Nieuwenhuis, with multiple victories to his name this campaign, and Ward Huybs, who has been mixing it with the very best as of late.

Elsewhere, Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) will be making his first appearance of the year, Ryan Kamp will continue his career as a privateer - following the expiry of his Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal contract - and Alpecin-Deceuninck will place hopes in Tibor del Grosso's breakthrough.

Unlike in the men's race, the women's event will begin without a clear favourite with Fem van Empel skipping this and her national championships later this month. Her absence opens up the women's race for a number of riders.

Laura Verdonschot (De Ceuster-Bonache) and Sanne Cant (Crelan-Corendon) are two outstanding riders for the sand and both riders have been notching up top-fives as of late, and exemplifying their prowess in the sand much like Van der Poel. Of course, there will be an emphasis on the regular winners come Sunday, but we should not discount the abilities of these two Belgians.

© Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images

Masses of sand will not frighten the talented Laura Verdonschot

As for those winners, we have unfortunately seen the last of Shirin van Anrooij (Baloise Trek Lions) this cyclo-cross season, with the Dutchwoman suffering from a broken rub that will see her sidelined until the start of the road campaign. However, there will be many keen to fill her place in the final standings in Zonhoven.

The likes of Inge van der Heijden (Crelan-Corendon), Marie Schreiber (SD Worx) and Aniek van Alphen (Cyclocross Reds) are all enjoying impressive seasons, but we cannot look much further than Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions), Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Deceuninck).

All three have victories to their names this season, and with Van Empel absent the race should be decided by those three riders.

Contributions from George Poole