For the 15th time, the Citadel of Namur will be the majestic setting for Wallonia’s biggest cyclo-cross on Sunday. The cyclo-cross of Namur is part of the UCI World Cup for the 12th time. Cyclists from 21 countries will tackle the flanks of the Citadel. In the Women’s, all the big tenors are at the start, with World and European Champion Fem van Empel leading the pack. The battle in the Men’s race is more open than ever and all eyes will be on the return of former World Champion Tom Pidcock.
Costa Rica, Canada, Albania, Sweden, Ireland, Romania, … Not just the traditional cyclo-cross countries will be represented at the cyclo-cross World Cup in Namur on Sunday. Although, especially among the elite women, the Dutch will be the ones to watch out for. Fem van Empel starts as top favourite. The 21-year-old Jumbo-Visma rider was crowned European Champion in Namur last year, extended her European title a few weeks ago in Pontchâteau in France, became World Champion in Hoogerheide in the Netherlands earlier this year and won the World Cup stages with brio in Waterloo in the US and Maasmechelen in Limburg. She skipped the following heats, meaning she is currently only eleventh in the World Cup rankings.
The leader in the standings after seven stages in Ceylin Alvarado, the winner in Dendermonde and Troyes. Lucinda Brand, winner in Dublin and Flamanville will also be in Namur and so will Manon Bakker, who was the best in the snow cross in Val di Sole last week. So, there are plenty of Dutch candidate winners for Sunday and we haven’t even mentioned Puck Pieterse, Annemarie Worst, Inge van der Heijden, Shirin van Anrooij, Leonie Bentveld and Denise Betsema. There is a greater than ever wealth on the Dutch side.
International challengers are Luxembourg’s Marie Schreiber, Britain’s Zoe Backstedt, Canada’s Maghalie Rochette, Hungary’s Kata Blanka Vas, Italy’s Sara Casasola and France’s Hélène Clauzel. Belgian entries include Marion Norbert-Riberolle, Laura Verdonschot and Alicia Franck. A place in the top ten for one of our compatriots would be particularly impressive.
Iserbyt defends lead, Vanthourenhout can score hattrick
Among the elite men, the Netherlands also has a lot of irons in the fire. Both Lars van der Haar, Pim Ronhaar (twice) and Joris Nieuwenhuis have already won in the UCI World Cup this season. But the leader in the standings is a Belgian, Eli Iserbyt. The 26-year-old from West-Flanders won the World Cup stages of Troyes and Flamanville and has a comfortable 55-point lead over Ronhaar in the standings. Laurens Sweeck (fifth), Niels Vandeputte (sixth) and Toon Vandebosch (eighth) are also in the upper reaches of the World Cup standings, but the Belgian with the best record in Namur is undoubtedly Michael Vanthourenhout. The 30-year-old from West-Flanders has won the past two races at the Citadel: the 2021 World Cup stage and the 2022 European Championships. In Pontchâteau last month, Vanthourenhout extended his European title.
But Sunday promises to be much more than a match Belgium-Netherlands on the Citadel. Swiss rider Kevin Kühn already showed great things this year and we can especially look forward to the British duo Mason-Pidcock. Cameron Mason already chalked up several podium finishes this season, including a second place at the European Championships in Pontchâteau. And Tom Pidcock is simply one of the best and most versatile cyclists in the world. The 2022 Cyclo-Cross World Champion will make his cyclo-cross season debut at the X²O Bathrooms Trophy in Herentals on Saturday and will compete with the world’s top riders in Namur on Sunday. Two years ago, he finished second in the Cyclo-Cross World Cup there, and third three years ago.
The spectacular and selective course in Namur is tailor-made for Pidcock. Sunday’s course retains the elements added last year for the European Championships: at the top of the castle there is a bridge and extra loop with a tough climb. Just before the finish there is another steep hill. If the decision hasn’t been made before, the race can certainly still be decided there.
Youth flock to event
The day before the UCI World Cup in Namur, a youth initiation will take place at the Citadel. The City of Namur and local organiser Golazo give children aged between 6 and 14 the chance to explore the unique and spectacular course under the guidance of ex-professionals and cyclo-cross experience experts. The youth initiation is a great success and is fully booked.
