It was the beginning of this year, just after the Christmas period and with all the top athletes present… In Hamme there was a cross-country race with the two world champions at the start. Fem van Empel and Mathieu van der Poel won, but were not there in north-west Belgium about ten months later. The organization is therefore looking for successors due to a different place on the cross-calendar.
Hamme is not yet a very old cross, because the race only saw the light of day in 2002. Van der Poel has been extremely dominant in recent years. Only in 2022 and 2023 he did not win, simply because he did not participate. In the last eight editions it was MVDP six times the best. Van Empel was the strongest among the women the last two times.
Latest winners X2O Trophy Hamme
2023/2024 Mathieu van der Poel / Fem van Empel
2022/2023 Wout van Aert / Fem van Empel
2021/2022 Laurens Sweeck / Lucinda Brand
2020/2021 Mathieu van der Poel / Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
2019/2020 Mathieu van der Poel / Annemarie Worst
2018/2019 Mathieu van der Poel / Annemarie Worst
2017/2018 Mathieu van der Poel / Sanne Cant
2016/2017 Mathieu van der Poel / Sanne Cant
2015/2016 Wout van Aert / Helen Wyman
2014/2015 Wout van Aert / Sanne Cant
Course, weather and times X2O Trophy Hamme 2024
Never change a winning teamIn cross country, little is often done to ensure a good course. And so the riders know what to expect in Hamme on Sunday. Lots of long, straight pieces, alternating with firm, punchy pieces. A sloping side, the chance of mud and a sturdy bridge make it a round for the powerhouses.
Weather
Cool temperatures, but normally dry and perhaps even under a very mild sun. The wind can still play a role on the open, straight stretches with a predicted wind force of 3. The crossers normally paddle through that.
Times
Women’s start: 1:45 p.m
Women’s finish: around 2:30 PM
Start men: 3 p.m
Finish men: around 4 p.m
Favorites women X2O Trophy Hamme 2024
So no Van Empel, who opted for a tough training period after her European Championship title. That means we’re back Lucinda Brand in Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado emerge as top favorites. They are both doing a double weekend, with the cross in Merksplas on Saturday, so there will be no advantage in terms of fresh legs.
Behind the two Dutchmen there are a lot of names who can play for the podium. Sara Casasola in Marion Norbert-Riberolle of Crelan-Corendon, the young one Zoe Backstedt on behalf of Canyon // SRAM and from the Dutch side, we still hope for a good day Annemarie Worst one/of Inge van der Heijden.
Favorites men X2O Trophy Hamme 2024
For the men, the field of participants is also almost the same as on Saturday in Merksplas. This means a double weekend for the first time this season Thibau Nyswho, as European champion, has excellent legs. And then he also gets Trek Lions at Baloise Lars van der Haar in Pim Ronhaar for a good result.
That’s where Pauwels puts Sauzen-Bingoal That is, Iserby in Michael Vanthourenhout the well-known duo opposite. However, also take Crelan-Corendon into account Laurens Sweeck getting into shape and with Joran Wyseure has a nice joker up his sleeve. Niels Vandeputte must do it for Alpecin-Deceuninck and further special attention to Felipe Ortswho is riding excellently as a Spanish contribution to Ridley.
TV X2O Trophy Hamme 2024
Eurosport is the standard broadcaster in cross-country, with live images on Sunday from 1:40 PM for the women and from 2:55 PM for the men. This is possible via Eurosport 1 and via the online channels of HBO Max Sport. On Sporza will be switched on at 1.30 pm for an extensive afternoon program on VRT1.
Bram van der Ploeg (Twitter: @BvdPloegg | e-mail: [email protected])
