10 races in 16 days - Niels Vandeputte will push himself to the limit at cyclocross' 'Christmas block'

Unlike the road, there are no stage-races in cyclocross and usually the events take place in the weekends. There is one clear exception to this however which is around the Christmas period, in which there is a race in most days with plenty fans willing and available to be present on the tracks. Niels Vandeputte will seize this opportunity to race as much as he can.

The Christmas block this year opens up with the Hulst World Cup this upcoming 21st December and closes out with the Dendermonde World Cup on the 5th January. In these space of these 16 days we have got 11 races (with the exceptions of 24, 25, 28 and 31 December; and 2nd January). In all other days, there is cyclocross to entertain fans every day.

Niels Vandeputte will not race the GP Sven Nys in Baal on the 1st January but excluding that one event, the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider will be on the start line of every single race. This will include five World Cup races in Hulst, Zonhoven, Gavere, Besançon and Dendermonde; but also Superprestige events in Mol, Diegem and Gullegem; X20 Trofee's sole race in Koksijde and the Exact Cross race in Loenhout.

Vandeputte is already known to race a lot during this block of racing but is increasing this further and further. The Belgian has already raced 5 races this winter including wins at a French race before the 'traditional' season opener in early October, but also a win in Hamme at the Flandriecross on the 17th November. It was a win that culminated an incredibly consistent period of racing, so far this season his worst result is a 6th place in Merksplas. Vandeputte seems very clearly focused on the Superprestige Cup where he sits in second place currently, he has missed two World Cup events and will miss an X2O race in Baal.