A record number of 24 countries will be represented at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Hoogerheide (NED) on January 31st and February 1st.
This is three more than the former record of 21 countries in Treviso, Italy, for last year’s World Championships and in Hooglede-Gits, Belgium, in 2007.
Newcomers to the World Championships this weekend are Cyprus, Romania and the Russian Federation. Their riders will rub shoulders with more than 200 athletes on the 3040m circuit which has been rendered frozen and therefore very rapid by the ideal weather: sun and low temperatures.
All the big names will be present in Hoogerheide, including local Dutch hero and reigning World Champion Lars Boom and winner of the 2008 -2009 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup presented by Safety Jogger, Sven Nys (Belgium). The Elite Men’s category witnesses a growth in participation this year, with more 71 riders registered compared with around 60 other years.
Also of note is the participation of the Dutch rider Richard Groenendaal, World Champion at St-Michielsgestel (NED) in 2000, who will participate in his last World Championships in Hoogerheide.
The Elite Men’s category witnesses a growth in participation this year, with more 71 riders registered compared with around 60 other years.
In the women’s competition, favourites include defending World Champion and World Cup winner Hanka Kupfernagel (Germany) and two local Dutch riders Marianne Vos (second in last year’s World Championships) and Daphny van den Brand (second in the 2008 -2009 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup presented by Safety Jogger).
Hoogerheide is accustomed to hosting major international cyclo-cross competitions, having already organized five World Cup races. It is also the home town of Adrie Van der Poel, who was World Champion in 1996.