Preview X2O Trophy Kortrijk | The spotlight is on the men's favorites and Van Empel's return

Last year’s edition delivered a thrilling showdown between Iserbyt, Lars van der Haar and British rider Cameron Mason. Ultimately, the Belgian came out on top after teammate Michael Vanthourenhout crashed while leading the race. In the women’s category, however, the competition was far less exciting — Fem van Empel finished 26 seconds ahead of Lucinda Brand, with Puck Pieterse trailing over a minute behind in third place. This year, Iserbyt is back, determined to defend his title despite his crash in Hamme, while the reigning world champion will sit out the race.

2023/2024 Mathieu van der Poel / Fem van Empel
2022/2023 Tom Pidcock / Marianne Vos
2021/2022 Toon Aerts / Lucinda Brand
2020/2021 Eli Iserbyt / Lucinda Brand
2019/2020 Mathieu van der Poel / Lucinda Brand

The course of the Urban Cyclo-cross is somewhat unconventional for a cyclo-cross race, because as the name suggests, it takes place right in the heart of the city of Kortrijk, Belgium. Starting on Burgemeester Vercruysselaan, riders immediately cross the Leie River via the Groeninge Bridge. The opening section is fast, with plenty of asphalt, followed by a short technical zone featuring the pit area. A long straight stretch along the water then leads to the Koning Albert Park, where riders face a challenging technical section.

From there, it’s back to the asphalt briefly before reaching the sandpit. While not overly difficult, this section could still create gaps. After the sandpit, the race shifts back to the fields, passing the pit area again before riders tackle barriers and a run-up on the College Bridge. Following the descent, it’s a twisting and turning ride, culminating in one last small bridge just before the finish on the Groeninge Bridge.

Weather
It’s shaping up to be a cold but mostly dry day in Kortrijk. Temperatures will barely climb above freezing, though there’s a chance of the occasional shower. If rain falls at the wrong time, it could completely change the dynamics of the race — particularly in the sandpit, which could turn into a muddy mess.

Times
Start women: 1:45 PM local time (7:45 AM EST)
Finish women: around 2:30 PM local time (8:30 AM EST)
Start men: 3:00 PM local time (9:00 AM EST)
Finish men: around 4:00 PM local time (10:00 AM EST)

This year’s women’s race essentially revolves around one thing: the return of Fem van Empel. The Visma | Lease a Bike rider has been absent from cyclo-cross for a few weeks and will use Saturday’s race as a warm-up for Sunday’s World Cup event. Unfortunately, some of the other top riders won’t be present to challenge the world champion in Kortrijk.

Those who will be racing include Inge van der Heijden, who has had a solid season and frequently finds herself near the front of the pack. Veteran Sanne Cant, in the final weeks of her cyclo-cross career, is an outside contender. Marion Norbert-Riberolle is another podium hopeful, while surprises could come from Anna Kay or Alicia Frank. However, with Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, Lucinda Brand and Sara Casasola absent, the race appears to be a red carpet for Van Empel.

Top favorite: Fem van Empel (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Outsiders: Marion Norbert-Riberolle and Inge van der Heijden (Crelan-Corendon)
Long shots: Sanne Cant (Crelan-Corendon), Anna Kay (Proximus Cyclis), Alicia Frank (De Ceuster Bouwpunt)

Has the upcoming World Cup race in Antwerp on Sunday influenced the lineup? The men's race will also have to do without many of the top riders. Thibau Nys, Joris Nieuwenhuis, Lars van der Haar and Pim Ronhaar won’t be starting. This opens the door for the second tier of riders to shine. Could we already count Eli Iserbyt among them? This might be the perfect opportunity for the smaller-sized Belgian to prove his class, though questions remain about his form.

Michael Vanthourenhout will once again support Iserbyt, while Niels Vandeputte, the season’s surprise standout, could be the one to beat. On the other hand, Joran Wyseure will be back in Kortrijk and Laurens Sweeck will return as well. The race promises to be a lot more exciting for the men than in the women's category.

Top favorite: Eli Iserbyt (Bingoal-Pauwels Sauzen)
Outsiders: Michael Vanthourenhout (Bingoal-Pauwels Sauzen), Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Long shots: Joran Wyseure and Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon), Jente Michels (Alpecin-Deceuninck)

The Urban Cyclo-cross in Kortrijk will be broadcast on both Sporza and Eurosport. Tune in to Sporza at 1:30 PM local time (7:30 AM EST) for full coverage of the event. Eurosport, along with online platforms Discovery+ and HBO Max, will start broadcasting the women’s race at 1:40 PM local time (7:40 AM EST), followed by the men’s race at 2:55 PM (8:55 AM EST).