Belgian cyclo-cross championships: without Wout van Aert, who are the favourites?
© BelgaImage
Broadcast on January 15 at 2:10 p.m. on Tipik
Sometimes exceeding one million viewers in our country, cyclo-cross never ceases to be sanctioned, in particular thanks to its trio of stars from the road, formed by Wout van AertMathieu van der Poel or Tom Pidcock, runners who can also be found at Tour de France. A visually spectacular winter discipline lasting an average of one hour and which is slowly coming to the end of its short season. And as tradition dictates, three weeks before the climax of the world championship, this Sunday sees the organization of most national championships. A race allowing each winner to trust a distinctive jersey, which he can wear for a year.
For the first time since its creation in 1910, Lokeren, in East Flanders, is hosting the Belgian event. In the heart of this city of 42,000 inhabitants – the crowd will be there – and around Mont Henri, worked, planks, sandbanks and mud will be on the menu of the runners, on one of the most full-bodied courses of these last years, which was tested for the first time in 2018. An edition which promises to be open in the absence of van Aert, five times winner and double title holder, who reserves for the world, contested on February 5 in Hoogerheide in the Nederlands. For his many opponents, including especially Laurens Sweeck (winner in 2020), Michael Vanthourenhout or Eli Iserbyt, this news is obviously a godsend, in an event that can be compared to a mini-world championship, given the domination of our country. in this sport. Which, paradoxically, has never been so internationalized, with a World Cup today passing through countries like the United States, Ireland or Spain…