The main goal for the crossers in the first half of the cyclo-cross winter is the European Championships, which will be held this year in a somewhat unusual place: Pontevedra, Spain. Barely two days after the Koppenbergcross on November 1, the European Championships are scheduled to take place, with almost all of the competitions being crammed into one day. In the Leader’s jersey takes you!
Every year we get the same question: what is the importance of such a European Championship? It was like this last year in Pontchateau, France, and it is now the same again in Pontevedra, Spain. Yet, given the honors list, it seems to be mainly something for the stage, as the big names are more than happy to appear there. For Michael Vanthourenhout and Fem van Empel, the European Championships have rightly been a big fish over the past two years, but the fact is that riders like Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert have not been there for years.
This year there will be another discussion involved: the clash with the Koppenbergcross, which is traditionally held on November 1 and did not want to change its location now. As a result, quite a few participants will fly to Spain or even Porto in Portugal on Saturday, while the material will even go that way by car.
Latest winners of the European Cyclo-cross Championships
2023 Michael Vanthourenhout / Fem van Empel
2022 Michael Vanthourenhout / Fem van Empel
2021 Lars van der Haar / Lucinda Brand
2020 That is, Iserbyt / Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
2019 Mathieu van der Poel / Yara Kastelijn
2018 Mathieu van der Poel / Annemarie Worst
2017 Mathieu van der Poel / Sanne Cant
Course, weather and times European Cyclo-cross Championships 2024
The organization’s website states that the circuit is 3350 meters long in total. The course designer is mainly aiming for a ‘fast and spectacular’ cross. Despite the emphasis on speed, the course certainly has its share of obstacles, which will be music to the ears of the riders present.
‘Three bridges will be built at different heights, a sandbank next to the Lérez River; it will be one of the most spectacular areas with the city of Pontevedra in the background,” said European Championship technical director Alberto del Rio. In addition to the obstacles mentioned, there are also beams near the material zone.
The center of gravity is a bridge, after which it is not far to the finish. According to the organization, this bridge has been extended by more than 20 (!) percent and will ‘demand the maximum from the riders shortly before the finish’. The circuit also has many unpaved sections, which can turn into difficult mud strips due to rainfall.
Dutch national coach Gerben de Knegt also had his say about the course. ‘We find an atypical cross course in a city park with not too many technical sections. I therefore expect a fast but perhaps also tactical race, in which we have to make clear agreements in advance and the riders have to do something for each other.’
Weather
It’s a good time to be in this part of Spain, where it promises to be sunny and reasonably warm all weekend. The temperature will be approximately 23 degrees Celsius, with a moderate wind from the east. There doesn’t seem to be any precipitation.
Times
Women start at 2:10 p.m
3 p.m. finish women
Men start at 3:30 PM
4.30 pm finish men
Favorites European Cyclocross Championships 2024 – women
There are a maximum of 21 and they fit on one page, the participants in this European Cyclocross Championships for women. Not much, but the battle for gold is unlikely to become any less exciting. Fem van Empel managed to win the past two editions and is now also among the top favorites, but behind her other ladies are acing her crown.
Van Empel won one of the four crosses in which she participated this season. It was in Ruddervoorde Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado the better, while Lucinda Brand managed to win the most recent cyclo-cross races in Woerden and Overijse. These two ladies are also considered the other contenders for Pontevedra, so that’s promising.
The Italian Sara Casasola was the big surprise last year with a third place, but is once again considered a serious outsider for the medals. Furthermore, the Dutch ladies make Inge van der Heijden, Aniek van Alphenfrom French Helene Clauzel and Belgian women Marion Norbert Riberolle, Alicia Franck and Laura Verdonschot have a chance of a good ranking on a good day.
Top favorite: Fem van Empel (Netherlands)
Outsiders: Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and Lucinda Brand (Netherlands)
Long shots: Sara Casasola (Italy), Héléne Clauzel (France), Aniek van Alphen and Inge van der Heijden (Belgium)
Favorites European Cyclocross Championships 2024 – men
The Dutch stand out among the women, but among the men that seems to be a task for the Belgians. Not that there are no strong Dutch people, on the contrary, but the top favorites are with their southern neighbors. Michael Vanthourenhout managed to win the last two editions on behalf of the riders in blue – who have to do it for the first time without national coach Sven Vanthourenhout.
Vanthourenhout did this from an underdog position, which he will probably occupy again this time. Thibau Nys in That is, Iserbyt are considered the contenders based on their most recent performances, where Nys can still benefit from his explosiveness and road qualities compared to Iserbyt on the city course.
Dutch national coach Gerben de Knegt did not immediately count on a European Championship title in his preview, but does state that Lars van der Haar in Pim Ronhaar are contenders for medal of honor just like last year. However, some Belgians are also eligible for this: Joran Wyseure in Niels Vandeputte are doing very well, but we can also expect something from Toon Aerts, Laurens Sweeck and Gerben Kuypers.
Finally, in the absence of form at Cameron Mason (second last year), we mention local favorite Felipe Orts, but the key is mainly in the hands of the Belgians who must be able to play the game on this course.
Top favorite: Thibau Nys (Belgium)
Outsiders: Eli Iserbyt and Niels Vandeputte (Belgium)
Long shots: Lars van der Haar, Pim Ronhaar (Netherlands), Michael Vanthourenhout and Joran Wyseure (Belgium)
TV European Cyclocross Championships 2024
Eurosport switches live on Eurosport 1 from 11am HBO Max in Discovery+ for successively the battle for the promising category (women and men) and of course the title battle for the elite women (2 p.m.) and elite men (3.20 p.m.). Sporza the broadcast starts at 12.40 pm on VRT Canvas. Please note: at 2 p.m. the Belgians switch to VRT1. The NOS makes room for the elite competitions in the afternoon programming and on NOS.nl.
