Preview World Cup Maasmechelen 2023 | Iserbyt, Van Empel, Van der Haar (and Nys) on controversial terrain

The first edition of the cyclocross in Maasmechelen was a great success in terms of spectators. Near Maasmechelen Village, a large outlet, many people came to watch the World Cup cyclocross. However, there was some criticism from the participants. The course around the former mine grounds had too many large stones, which the participants highlighted after the race.

"The course didn't really flow nicely," said winner Fem van Empel at the time, putting it politely. Eli Iserbyt and Lars van der Haar were, as always, outspoken. "This was not a course for a World Cup cross. Next year we won't be coming back here," stated the Belgian after a fall. "It's not because I didn't win here that I have criticism. You just had no grip anywhere, especially not in the corners." Van der Haar agreed. "It was very dangerous; this doesn't belong in the World Cup."

2022 Laurens Sweek / Fem van Empel

As mentioned, participants were absolutely not pleased with the course in Maasmechelen last year, and the organization has clearly listened to this for this year's edition. The popularity of the race will not suffer too much: just like in 2022, a large crowd is expected at the former mining site.

Chris Mannaerts, the responsible for putting together the course, told Het Nieuwsblad about the changes that have been made to meet the requirements of the cyclocross riders. "To start with, the event terrain has been redesigned. As a result, part of the course now has a gravel-like surface. This is faster and less bumpy," said the man from Flanders Classics.

"The toughest descent has been removed from the course. That was perhaps the most criticized part because there were loose stones. We've cut that section out," he continued. "There is a sand section added, so there are no stones over about 150 meters, and the main change is perhaps that we've moved the technical area. Last year, there was a very sharp turn in that area, and stones were literally coming out of the ground."

"Although the course will be tougher due to the rain than last year, I feel that we have done everything we can to ensure everything runs smoothly," Mannaerts concluded.

Weather
Heading towards next Sunday, it may rain around Maasmechelen, but on the day itself, the organization seems to be in luck with temperatures around 15 degrees Celsius and some sunshine. However, there will be a fairly strong wind from the southwest.

Times
Start women: 1:40 pm
Finish women: 2:30 pm 
Start men: 3:10 pm 
Finish men: 4:10 pm 

There's no doubt about the top favorite among the women: that is Fem van Empel, who has taken off like a rocket this season for Jumbo-Visma. The young rider from Brabant fully focused on the cross winter, and that has paid off so far with victories in Beringen, Waterloo, Overijse, and Woerden. Impressive!

Peers Puck Pieterse and Shirin van Anrooij are currently taking a break, so we automatically turn to the women with a bit more experience. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado from Alpecin-Deceuninck is also secretly having a good season: in all three crosses she competed in, she stood on the podium.

Furthermore, the Dutch ladies are of course always at the start with a whole slew of outsiders for the top five. This time, these include Annemarie Worst, Aniek van Alphen (Cyclocross Reds), Inge van der Heijden, Manon Bakker (Crelan-Corendon), Leonie Bentveld, and Denise Betsema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal).

British Zoe Backstedt from Canyon/SRAM is perhaps the most dangerous outsider, although we should not expect too much from her at a young age. Additionally, we will keep an eye on Laura Verdonschot, Sanne Cant, Marion Norbert Riberolle from Belgium, the French Helene Clauzel, and the Luxembourg's Marie Schreiber.

Top favorite: Fem van Empel (Jumbo-Visma)
Outsiders: Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Annemarie Worst (Cyclocross Reds)
Long shots: Zoe Backstedt (Canyon/SRAM), Inge van der Heijden (Corran-Corendon) and Denise Betsema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal)

For the men, we have seen nothing but spectacle this season. The main animator was Thibau Nys, who set the tone race after race. In Beringen and Waterloo, he managed to secure the victory, while in Overijse, a fall in the very last round ultimately did him in.

Eli Iserbyt from Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal was a major opponent in all those races, ultimately coming away with the victory in Overijse. Iserbyt has mentioned multiple times that the duels with Nys keep him sharp, so let's hope that this coming Sunday will be another great showdown.

However, it is certainly not all about Nys and Iserbyt, as both Baloise Trek Lions and Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal have strong trump cards in Michael Vanthourenhout and Lars van der Haar. Do not be surprised if one of them stands on the highest podium in Maasmechelen.

Laurens Sweeck, last year's winner, seems to have some catching up to do on behalf of Corendon-Crelan after some ups and downs. We expect him, along with teammates Witse Meeussen, Toon Vandebosch, Cameron Mason (Cyclocross Reds), Joris Nieuwenhuis, Pim Ronhaar (Baloise Trek Lions), Felipe Orts (Burgos-BH), Gerben Kuypers, Kevin Kuhn (Circus-Reuz-Technord), Niels Vandeputte, Jente Michels (Alpecin-Deceuninck), and Ryan Kamp (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal), to be fighting for a place in the top five.

Top favorite: Thibau Nys (Baloise Trek Lions)
Outsiders:Eli Iserbyt and Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal)
Long shots: Lars van der Haar (Baloise Trek Lions), Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon) and Cameron Mason (Cyclocross Reds)

Both Sporza, NOS, and Eurosport will broadcast the cross live on television. The Belgians can tune in at 13:30 on VRT1 for the women's and men's cross races in succession, while the Dutch can tune in online at NOS.nl. The same applies to Eurosport. The sports channel will broadcast the event on Eurosport 1 and online platforms (Eurosport.nl/Discovery+/GCN+).