Preview: Superprestige Merksplas 2024 – Will Thibau Nys’ dominance continue?

The Telenet Superprestige will rumble on next weekend in Merksplas, for round number four. After a weekend with only Lokeren on the schedule, European champion Thibau Nys is ready for his first double confrontation of the cross season. For the women, we hope for a nice duel between Lucinda Brand and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado. CyclingFlits looks ahead.

History

Last year

Course

The circuit in Merksplas-Kolonie consists of a mix of pasture, dirt roads, forest paths and cobblestones. In addition, there are a number of various obstacles such as a bridge, beams, a sandbox and a slope. In summary: a healthy variation between a number of difficult passages and a number of more passable sections.

Technical capabilities are also one of the requirements for winning in Merksplas. For example, the passage in the forest (left in the photo) is quite technical. Furthermore, a staircase awaits the riders there, making it a really important passage in the course.

If the difference has not yet been made, there will be a new opportunity at the end of the round. The last two obstacles – the beams and sandbox – follow each other in quick succession. The material station is also located in that zone and there are also quite a few loops there that have been designed differently by the organization than in previous years. However, this should not lead to major changes.

Also always a culprit in Merksplas: the weather. Last year the course had to be redrawn as a last resort because rainfall had flooded some corn fields. The parking lot for visitors and press people was also completely flooded. But even without those passages, the circuit would have been transformed into a leaden mud pit. This year the surface should be less wet, but you still need to pay attention in Merksplas.

Program and information

Location
Center of Merksplas, on the Merksplas Colony Domain. The start and finish is in Kapelstraat, 2330 Merksplas.

Public information
Tickets cost €14.5 in advance. The daily price is €17. Children up to 12 years old can enter for free.

Practical information
Website organization
Website Telenet Superprestige

Participant list women
List of participants for men

Favorites men

There is Thibau Nys weather! It was perhaps not an unwise decision by the brand new European champion not to overcrowd his program in recent weeks. He carefully selected one cross every weekend, with the aim of maintaining sufficient freshness. However, he will do things differently this weekend: he will be on the participants list in both Merksplas and Hamme.

Nys is immediately the top favorite in Merksplas. While the value ratios in the first crosses of the season seemed to be relatively close to each other, we saw dominance taking place for the first time since the European Championships. Nys actually played with the opposition there, had control and could drive the course he wanted. This was also the case in Lokeren. After his illness just before the start of the cross season, we now finally get to see the best Nys. The chance does not seem particularly small that he ‘just’ continues that form here.

Or will we get the Belgian champion for the first time That is, Iserby at the party? It has never taken so long in recent history for Jurgen Mettepenningen and his team to master a classification cross. Things were not going well for the troops of Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal either. There were back problems with Michael Vanthourenhout, while Iserbyt seems to be missing a few percent and he is not having an easy time mentally since the incident with Ryan Kamp and the ‘beer thrower’ on the Koppenberg.

That did create room for new names at the front, almost all of whom seem to come from the camp of Christoph and Philip Roodhooft. The best of them all Niels Vandeputtewho has not fallen out of the top 4 once in the entire season and is the constant himself. Just like Ruddervoorde winner Joran Wyseure he can also handle tough pasture crosses well. Vandeputte finished in a close place of honor in this cross last year. We are also curious about revelation Jente Michels, but he may be less happy about this.

Furthermore, we are also looking forward to the Spanish champion Felipe Ortswho adds color to the Ridley Racing Team in the absence of teammate Joris Nieuwenhuis. Laurens Sweeck has regained confidence with a victory in the Jaarmarktcross in Niel, but normally Merksplas is less his course. You never know what to expect from Pim Ronhaar, and of course we always take this into account Toon Aerts.

Favorites according to WielerFlits
*** Thibau Nys
** Niels Vandeputte, Eli Iserbyt
* Felipe Orts, Toon Aerts, Joran Wyseure

Favorites women

We can expect a duel again in the women’s cross. After the dominance of Fem van Empel last season, we never thought that the women’s cross races would be incredibly exciting again this winter. You also saw this last weekend: on Saturday Lucinda Brand dominated the cross in Lokeren, on Sunday Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado did the same in Niel.

Still, it would Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado should in principle be given preference. She was never able to use her full potential in Lokeren due to an early bad moment. And the former world champion seems to have made some progress compared to last winter. “After my two bad seasons, things have gotten better every year. I can certainly be grateful for that. This year we have taken it one step further. I just worked hard and it paid off,” she said in front of our camera last week.

Dutch champion Lucinda Brand has made a goal of the rankings in the Superprestige. But Brand is also doing well in the X2O Trophy, and then the World Cup still has to start. “A luxury problem,” Brand previously called it on our microphone. That ‘luxury problem’ ensures that she remains extra motivated for every appointment. At the age of 35, Brand is still reaching her best level and that can only be called admirable. She should be able to use all her strength on the straights in Merksplas.

Last year’s revelation in Merksplas? That was the Belgian one at the time Marion Norbert-Riberolle. The Belgian always performs well on difficult mud courses, and that was also the case then. Last week she occupied the same place in Niel. The Walloon seems to be in good shape anyway, but also sees her compatriot Laura Verdonschot drive strong. To her great pleasure, there is a sandbox in Merksplas, because the rest will be tough. Maybe ‘good old’ Sanne Cant can also go all out in her last winter.

Annemarie Worst had a rather disrupted preparation for her cyclo-cross season and was only able to participate in the debates later, but in recent weeks she has been piling up places of honor. The Italian does that too, by the way Sara Casasolawho seems to have finally taken the step to the sub-top. On a top day, they are good for a podium spot, just like Inge van der Heijden, Zoe Bäckstedt and Leonie Bentveld.

Favorites according to WielerFlits
*** Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
** Lucinda Brand, Marion Norbert-Riberolle
* Laura Verdonschot, Sara Casasola, Annemarie Worst

Weather and TV

Although there has been quite a bit of precipitation in Merksplas all week, this will be kept to a minimum the day before and on the day of the cross itself, according to Weatheronline. The riders won’t feel warm anyway, because the temperatures will not exceed 10 degrees Celsius.

The Superprestige Merksplas can be followed live on TV. This is how Belgians can go to Telenet Play Sports in Next Pickx Showcase/Next Pickx Sports from 1.30 pm. At that moment you can also zap to Eurosport 1. You can also watch the cross via the online channels of HBO Max/Discovery+. For more information you can always visit our TV guide ‘Cycling on TV’.