Preview: X2O Trophy Lokeren 2024 – Can brand new European champion Thibau Nys shine?

Last week’s European Championship in Pontevedra provided thrilling cross-country races. Fem van Empel and Thibau Nys were allowed to take home the European jersey, but we will only see one of those two in action this weekend. Van Empel opts for a rest period, Nys is present. Who is the women’s favorite then? And who are Nys’s challengers? CyclingFlits looks ahead.

History

Latest edition

Course

The course in Lokeren has changed somewhat since the Belgian championship in 2023. While last year it required a distance of more than three kilometers, it is now just under three kilometers. For example, the river will no longer be crossed, the entire course takes place in the heart of Park Ter Beuken.

Mont Henri is still the showpiece of the course. The difficult hill is in the middle of the circuit. So it’s still a while to the finish, but the difference can certainly be made. There are also a lot of bends in that part of the lap, which means a lot of acceleration. At the beginning and at the end of the course there are more long straight stretches.

The Rapencross was always organized in September, until the Belgian Championships in 2023. Then of course the cross took place in January, so now the cyclo-cross is held in November. That could mean there is some mud, but it still hasn’t rained much in Belgium. So it will probably be a quick cross on Sunday.

Program and information

X²O Bathrooms Trophy – Rapencross Lokeren

Location
Uebergdreef, Lokeren.

Public information
Tickets cost 16 euros in advance and 20 euros on the day itself. Children up to 12 years old can enter for free.

Practical information
Website organization
List of participants for men (CyclingFlash)
Participant list women (CyclingFlash)

Standings X2O Bathrooms Trophy men (CyclingFlash)
Standings X2O Bathrooms Trophy women (CyclingFlash)

Favorites men

All eyes will be on Sunday Thibau Nys. The brand new European champion will race in his star jersey for the first time in Lokeren. Immediately after the cross in Pontevedra, the young Nys said that he wanted to make his jersey shine in the coming weeks. Burning ambition for the Baloise Trek Lions rider, who surprisingly finished third at the elite Belgian Championships in… Lokeren in 2023. So Nys has good memories of the Rapencross.

Michael Vanthourenhout has that too, because he is the rider who won then. The Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal rider won after a thrilling battle with Laurens Sweeck. Both Vanthourenhout and Sweeck managed to win once this season, but neither man came close to victory in the last crosses. A greater candidate for victory is That is, Iserbyt. The current Belgian champion, as we know him, is consistency himself this season. Can he turn that into a profit again?

Lars van der Haar is someone who is always there. The Dutch rider also rode a good European championship, but in the final he fell just short of a podium place. That also had something to do with the difficult tactical situation he was in, with a teammate but not a fellow countryman – Nys – at the head of the race. Who knows, maybe Nys will leave a gap for Van der Haar on Sunday, and then there is a good chance that the competition will not see him again. Just think of Beringen and the Koppenbergcross.

Also just next to the podium in Pontevedra; Niels Vandeputte. The fast man from Alpecin-Deceuninck has taken a step this year and can compete for prizes in almost every cross. We also mention the names of Toon Aerts, Pim Ronhaar, Toon Vandebosch, Gerben Kuypers, Witse Meeussen, Jens Adams and Jente Michels. Aerts has the ‘problem’ that it has not yet rained heavily, otherwise the Rapencross would certainly be something for him. Felipe Orts – the surprise of the last European Championship – and Joran Wyseure are not there.

Favorites according to WielerFlits
*** Thibau Nys
** Eli Iserbyt, Lars van der Haar
* Michael Vanthourenhout, Niels Vandeputte, Laurens Sweeck

List of participants for men (CyclingFlash)

Favorites women

No Fem van Empel in Lokeren. The European and world champion is taking a break after the European Championships and is focusing on the end of November. Then she wants to be in top form at the start of the first round of the World Cup. From the party: Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado in Lucinda Brand. The numbers two and three of the European Championship in Pontevedra will probably fight for victory together in Lokeren.

Both women have not yet been able to win, but this is mainly due to the fact that the Rapencross is only part of a classification for the first time this year. Alvarado did not make that ranking a goal, but Brand did. So she may race a little more with that classification in mind, although the Baloise Trek Lions rider – if we eliminate Van Empel – has a big lead over her first pursuer.

It’s difficult to pick a favorite, but we lean slightly more towards Alvarado. She may have a few more assets than Brand on these types of courses. However, it does not necessarily have to end in a duel, because Sara Casasola is also present. The Italian rode a great European Championship, but ultimately had to settle for fourth place. In Lokeren she gets an excellent opportunity to climb back onto the podium.

Annemarie Worst will probably also aim for the podium. The cheerful Dutch made her return after illness in the Koppenberg and gave an okay impression. She collaborates with riders such as: Laura VerdonschotAlicia Franck, Sanne Cant and Manon Bakker have a chance of a place in the top 5. Finally, it is also something to look forward to Zoe Backstedt. The British talent will ride her first cross of the season in Lokeren.

Favorites according to WielerFlits
*** Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
** Lucinda Brand, Sara Casasola
* Laura Verdonschot, Annemarie Worst, Zoe Bäckstedt

Participant list women (CyclingFlash)

Weather and TV

We will not get temperatures like in Pontevedra in Lokeren. Even more, the riders will be happy if it is warmer than 10 degrees Celsius. They should not expect rain or strong winds.

The Rapencross can of course be followed live in living rooms in Belgium and the Netherlands. You can watch the cyclo-cross live on Sporza, VRT1, among others. You can also switch to Eurosport 1, HBO Max and Discovery+ channels. For more information and exact broadcast times, you can always visit our TV guide ‘cycling on TV’.