The Belgium nationwide crew is down half of the riders the coach Angelo De Clercq anticipated to fill the nation’s eight-man squad for the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships elite males’s race, however have stuffed out the roster with new nationwide champion Thibau Nys on the helm.
The crew is with out Wout van Aert, who broke a bone in his proper foot in a crash throughout the Zilvermeercross in Mol earlier this month, Eli Iserbyt to an early retirement, Laurens Sweeck to an injured shoulder, and Emiel Verstrynge, who has introduced his season to a near give attention to preparation for the highway season.
That leaves Nys to steer the choice alongside Michael Vanthourenhout, Toon Aerts, Niels Vandeputte, Joran Wyseure, Toon Vandebosch, Jente Michels, and Gerben Kuypers.
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The UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships happen in Hulst, The Netherlands, on January 31 and February 1.
Though the crew is lacking some prime names, Belgian Biking remains to be searching for medals, even when dethroning seven-time world champion Mathieu van der Poel on his dwelling soil.
“The puzzle was not so tough anymore and had already been laid for some time,” De Clercq mentioned to Sporza. “I knew for some time that there could be absentees. I had been involved with Emiel Verstrynge for the previous few weeks, and we additionally knew that Wout and Laurens wouldn’t be there.
“They have been all 4 medal contenders, so it is a disgrace to should miss them. However the focus is now on the blokes who’re there.”
Verstrynge was a detailed second to Nys within the latest Belgian championships and has had a stellar season with six podiums, together with third within the Zonhoven and Antwerp World Cups. Nonetheless, he’s beginning his second neo-pro 12 months with Alpecin-Premier Tech, and has already deliberate to cease his cyclo-cross season with the Belgian championships with a purpose to relaxation up for the highway season.
For Nys’ half, the brand new Belgian champion is aware of that topping Van der Poel might be an uphill battle, however De Clercq has confidence within the crew’s medal potential.
“Thibau ought to be capable of comply with [Van der Poel] for a very long time. He has to have ambition to be on the rostrum, and also you by no means know, Mathieu may have a foul day and Nys find yourself on the very best step anyway. Anyway, we’ve got a really sturdy crew to go to Hulst.”
The crew is hoping to win 4 medals whole, together with the non-elite races.
“It is a practical purpose. In quite a few classes, we’re with medal candidates and with the boys’s juniors and under-23s, we will maybe even turn out to be world champions with a very good day. It is attention-grabbing to see how far we get there.”
Belgium for the 2026 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships
Elite Males
Thibau NysMichael VanthourenhoutToon AertsNiels VandeputteJoran WyseureToon VandeboschJente MichelsGerben KuypersReserves: Anton Ferdinande, Wout Janssen, Witse Meeussen, Victor Van de Putte
Elite Ladies
Marion Norbert RiberolleJulie Brouwers
U23 Males
Viktor VandenbergheMats Vanden EyndeSil De BrauwereKay De BruyckereYordi CorsusAaron DockxArthur Van den BoerReserve: Kenay De Moyer
U23 Ladies
Fleur MoorsShanyl De Schoesitter
Junior Males
Giel LejeuneJari Van LeeBas Vanden EyndeLars Corsus
Junior Ladies
