Preview: X2O Trophy Hamme 2024 – Nys versus Iserbyt, Brand versus Alvarado

You no longer have to look for the cross in Hammme in mid-February, but suddenly in November. That is why no defending champions Mathieu van der Poel and Fem van Empel will be at the start this time, but a whole host of great names will ensure an exciting battle in the Wase municipality. CyclingFlits looks ahead.

History

Last year

Course

The route of the X2O Bathrooms Trophy round in Hamme is virtually the same as last year. The start is still with a view of the Miraburg, known from the iconic Flemish film ‘Mira or the teleurgang van de Waterhoek’ from 1971, with Jan Decleir and Willeke Van Amelrooy in the leading roles.

Just before this bridge, the riders turn into the field, after which a technical passage through the Hamme bike park will immediately follow. But that trajectory has changed slightly.

After a few passages around the pond it then goes towards the first passage of the material station. The route can generally be seen as a traditional route with passages over forest land, beams and a piece of meadow between two ponds. Small detail: the large pond is now also opened on the left side.

Then it goes to Sports Hall Meulenbroek, where several public tents have been erected. The spectators are treated to a winding passage, which means that the riders stay there for a long time. After a loop around this pond, the course winds the riders to the second passage of the equipment zone, after which the course is briefly crossed.

On the south side of the water, the riders then return to the starting location on the Hamveer. There we will find the successors to Mathieu van der Poel and Fem van Empel.

Program and information

Location
Industrial park Zwaarveld, 9220 Hamme

Public information
Tickets can be purchased online here for 16 euros each in advance. Children up to 12 years old can enter for free.

Practical information
Website organization
Participants men
Participants women

Favorites men

One thing is certain: we will have a different winner for both men and women than last year. The Flandriencross sees Mathieu van der Poel pass because he does not yet know whether he will cross, but that can only increase the tension. Van der Poel was very dominant on the technical course of Hamme, but we do see someone who can repeat that number.

European champion Thibau Nys After all, it has the same large engine, which he worked on last summer with an impressive road campaign. In itself, Hamme is also a nice course to ride alone. This way you stay out of the rush for the technical zones, and you can just ride your own cross. Nys is strong enough for that and seems to dominate more and more. Since the European Championships he has been riding around on a cloud and wants to keep winning as much as possible. The leader of Baloise Trek Lions will complete his first double weekend of the cross season, something he deliberately does not do too often to stay as fresh as possible.

His teammate Lars van der Haar on the other hand, picks up just about everything. At 33, there is something to be said for that. Van der Haar also started the season strongly with three victories, but sees himself being passed by some younger riders in the last few races. On Saturday in Merksplas he was fairly invisible, but the Woudenberger did finish third.

First of all, we are talking about seasonal revelation Niels Vandeputtewho continues to pile up the top 4 places but ‘only finished sixth’ in Merkplas, Jente Michels and Joran Wyseure. But also Felipe Orts continues to amaze week after week. Whether on fast circuits such as Pontevedra or tough courses such as Niel: the Spanish champion is there.

And then we haven’t even mentioned the three best crossers of recent years. That is, Iserby and Michael Vanthourenhout are still waiting for a few extra percentages to give Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal that first big win of the season. While Laurens Sweeck Last weekend in Niel he finally found his old legs again. He confirmed this on Saturday with a win in Merksplas. The top only gets wider, but that is precisely what makes for nice crosses.

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

Participants men (Cyclingflash)

Favorites women

So don’t look for world champion Fem van Empel, who defeated the opposition in January. She is still ready for her well-deserved rest period, so her competitors had better seize every opportunity. Not that Van Empel will immediately win everything again upon her return to cross-country, but like Lucinda Brand or Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, it is better to err on the side of caution.

Those two names are also our top favorites in Hamme. Because Alvarado skipped the Koppenbergcross in favor of a fresh start at the European Championships in Pontevedra, Lucinda Brand a significant lead in the rankings of the X2O Bathrooms Trophy. If she continues to perform well in races like this, she may be able to achieve that ranking by the end of the Christmas period. The many straight strips on the course seem to be something that the Dutch champion is very happy with.

Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado it seems to rely on technical zones, such as it bike park and the passages through the forest, but these are mainly at the beginning of the tour. She does have the advantage that, if Brand cannot break her free, she has an excellent final lap in her legs. These two ladies entering the final round together seems like the dream scenario to us. It was that close on Saturday in Merksplas.

The Italian champion Sara Casasola is the one that comes closest to those two world top players for the time being. Her transfer to Crelan-Corendon has clearly done Casasola no harm, because apart from the first cross of the season in Beringen, she has not once fallen out of the top 4. The constant itself, but what an outlier she would have been awarded.

For the others we expect a battle for the closest places of honor, but not necessarily for victory. Then think of names from Belgium such as Laura Verdonschot and Marion Norbert-Riberolle, but also more strong women from the Netherlands, in the persons of Inge van der Heijden, Annemarie Worst and Aniek van Alphen. The British Zoe Backstedt is also participating.

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

Women participants (Cyclingflash)

Weather and TV

After several dry days, precipitation will fall in and around Hamme on Sunday. It will be limited to 4 mm, which will fall mainly in the morning, according to Weatheronline. In the afternoon the sun still partly comes through the clouds, but the temperature never rises higher than 9 degrees Celsius. The wind blows at 3 Beaufort from the west.

Hamme’s X2O Trophy can be followed live from 1:30 PM via Sporzaon the VRT. The match can of course also be viewed via 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’.