February 2/18 10:28 am - Cross Worlds Preview

Posted by Editoress on 02/2/18
 

Tomorrow and Sunday the cyclo-cross season will culminate with the world championships.  This year the Worlds take place in Valkenburg, Netherlands, on top of the famous Cauberg climb, the site of many Classics on the road, as well as the Road world championships.  It is a location that is at the intersection of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany - three of the biggest cyclo-cross nations, so the number of fans is expected to be enormous.

The pits are ready

Maghalie Rochette navigates the mud

Photo Gallery

Slide Show of Photos

The weather has been wet for a long time, so muddy doesn't begin to describe the conditions.  Hanka Kupfernagel, the four-time world champion from Germany, says that it was hard enough in the dry when she raced it, so she expects it to be very, very difficult.  There are few flat spots, with one very steep climb that is a run up for everyone, and a long switchback descent that could prove to be the race decider.  To take it fast means a possibility of crashing, but to take it slow means the rider will lose considerable time.  Kupfernagel thinks it will be the critical part of the course.

On Saturday, the Junior men, the new Under-23 women's category and the Elite women will race, with the Under-23 men and Elite men on Sunday.  Canada has a team of 13 riders, with entries in every category.

Junior Men
Paul Mysko - Barrie, Ontario
Dylan Kerr - Horseshoe Valley, Ontario
Conor Martin - Kelowna, BC
Tyler Clark * - King City, Ontario

Under-23 Women
Magdeleine Vallieres Mill - Sherbrooke, Quebec
Siobhan Kelly - London, Ontario
Ruby West * - Dundas, Ontario

Under-23 Men
Nicholas Diniz - Oakville, Ontario

Elite Women
Mical Dyck - Cumberland, BC
Maghalie Rochette - St-Jerome, Quebec
Christel Ferrier Bruneau * - Granby, Quebec

Elite Men
Mark McConnell - Calgary, AB
Michael van den Ham* - Abbottsford, BC

*= National Champion

Race Schedule