Preview: Superprestige Niel 2024 – The first for Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal?

November 11, when it is traditionally time for the Annual Market Cross in Niel. For the second year in a row it is part of the Telenet Superprestige, with great names at the start. For the women it is now up to Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado to seize her chance, while for the men Eli Iserbyt, Lars van der Haar and Michael Vanthourenhout can battle it out. CyclingFlits looks ahead!

History

Last year

Course

The route of the Jaarmarktcross is a blueprint from last year, but a striking change occurred. After all, the organization presented a brand new finish line at the time. This was initially located in the Antwerpsestraat, close to the center of Niel, but from now on it was opted for a finish on a more central part of the course in the Kwaede Wielstraat. “The cross has been coinciding with the fair for years. The center is then very busy, and to separate the two events, we were asked to place the start and finish close to the equipment station, on a nice wide track,” course designer Erwin Vervecken told us last year.

“This makes the cross a bit more compact. The audience in the center sees the riders passing all around them, which only makes the race more attractive.” With thanks to the Nielse dijk, which plays a central role in the Jaarmarktcross. The riders reach this via a steep descent, after which they enter the so-called ‘blubber zone’ at high speed.

The riders can sink up to their ankles in the mud, especially now that it has rained a bit. According to tradition, says Vervecken. “That will be very tough, it will also be the longest running zone of the cross. This is followed by a few more slopes, where the riders will have to crawl up onto the verge. They have to get off the bike four or five times.”

The toughest zone awaits at the very end of the round. The so-called Wall of Nilea 500-meter passage through the forest, which was only added to the trail in 2021. “That remains the apotheosis of the cross, because from there it is only 500 meters to the finish. The riders no longer have to ride around the pond, but are immediately sent towards the new finish line.”

Furthermore, there are also some technical zones waiting for the round, especially in the initial phase. For example, just after passing the material station, the riders are presented with the Parels van Niel, the well-known washboard in front of the public tent. Many sharp bends and a sandbox of sixty meters will also test the technique, but the differences will mainly be made in the mud.

Practical information

Telenet Superprestige – Annual Market Cross

Location and entrance
Kwaede Wielstraat, Niel
Entrance: €17 (€15 in presale until November 10)

Website organization
Website Telenet Superprestige

Participants men (Cyclingflash)
Women participants (Cyclingflash)

Interim score

Favorites men

Don’t look for brand new European champion Thibau Nys in Niel. The leader of Baloise Trek Lions usually only rides one cross per weekend this season, because he certainly doesn’t want to waste his time. This weekend the choice fell on the X2O Trophy cross of Lokeren on Sunday. So in Niel we will have to do without Nys. And we can call that a major loss for the organization.

Jurgen Mettepenningen, team manager of Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal, said last week: “I would be surprised if we don’t manage a classification cross next weekend.” At first glance this is a strong statement, but the troops of Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal (from January 1: Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel Clementines) are in good shape. That is, Iserbyt This week he is working on those last few percent that should make him a winner at the highest level again. And two-time European champion Michael Vanthourenhout we see him in his normal sweater, but he is always good in the mud.

Lars van der Haar will therefore be able to uphold the honor of Baloise Trek Lions, even though he did not feel top fit in Lokeren. Moreover, the multiple Dutch Superprestige champion has made a goal. He was perhaps the most consistent pawn of all this season, and in fact the only European (American Andrew Strohmeyer has already won seven times) who has three stripes behind his name. Van der Haar is not worn out yet, but he secretly hopes that the difficult course will not require too much running.

Some outsiders think completely differently about this. Numbers one and two in the Telenet Superprestige rankings, for example. Then we’ll talk about it Joran Wyseure (Crelan-Corendon), who already won the opening round in Ruddervoorde, and the number two of Lokeren: Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Deceuninck). But the man who, according to analyst Paul Herygers, is longing for rainy weather Toon Aerts (Deschacht-Hens-FSP).

We should definitely mention one rider, and that is the Spaniard and Rucphen winner Felipe Orts. Of course it was a completely different course where he impressed last week at the European Championships in Pontevedra. But the importance of his silver medal cannot be underestimated. It could well give the now 28-year-old Orts the boost he needed. And he puts his new Ridley team in the spotlight. After all, they are still waiting for the return of Joris Nieuwenhuis, about which a decision will be made next week about his comeback.

Favorites according to WielerFlits
*** That is, Iserbyt
** Michael Vanthourenhout, Lars van der Haar
* Joran Wyseure, Felipe Orts, Toon Aerts

Participants men (Cyclingflash)

Favorites women

Now that Fem van Empel has started her rest period after the European Championship, it is up to the other riders to harvest. That’s exactly how it was a year ago. Back then the world champion was a lot more dominant and had to Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, the leader of Alpecin-Deceuninck, had to wait until here in Niel before she could take her second victory of the season.

Alvarado started the season strongly – photo: Cor Vos

This time she already has three victories under her belt, but it will still be nice to have to deal with one less competitor. The technically strong Alvarado will still have to take the speedster into account Lucinda Brand. At the age of 35, the woman from Baloise-Trek Lions is still doing well at the front, and at first glance she even seems to have become slightly stronger compared to last season. She is one of the top contenders in Niel. In Lokeren, Brand won ahead of Alvarado, who did not get further than second place after bad luck.

The first two positions seem to be occupied if all goes well. But behind that there is something to look forward to the new kid in town, Zoe Backstedtof whom it is difficult for us to estimate how far along she is. The British junior world champion already flirted with the podium several times last season and should only have become even stronger after a solid road campaign. During her comeback in Lokeren, she started well, but fell back to seventh place, more than two minutes behind Brand.

Furthermore, you also have to take into account a whole host of outsiders. Just think of the Italian climber who finished third in Lokeren Sara Casasola (Crelan-Corendon), Annemarie Worst (Cyclocross Reds), Inge van der Heijden (Crelan-Corendon) and last season’s Czech revelation, Kristyna Zemanova (Brilon Racing Team MB). Laura Verdonschot (De Ceuster-Bouwpunt) is less suitable, but is also always dangerous.

Favorites according to WielerFlits
*** Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
** Lucinda Brand, Laura Verdonschot
* Sara Casasola, Zoe Bäckstedt, Inge van der Heijden

Women participants (Cyclingflash)

Weather and TV

In Belgium, for the live broadcast of the men and women, you have to participate in elite cross country on the open channels of Telenet Play Sports in Next Pickx are. Dutch people can then tune in again Eurosport 1or via the online channels of HBO Max. On all channels you can watch the women’s broadcast from 1:30 PM and the men’s broadcast from 3:00 PM.

It remains to be seen whether it will really be a tough slog in Niel. We don’t get any precipitation in the days leading up to the match, and even on the day it should have rain Meteorologist don’t fall. It will be perfect weather for the spectators. The temperatures are even a pleasant 11 degrees Celsius and the wind blows at 1 Beaufort.