The Netherlands are a superpower in cyclocross, and heading into Tabor they may take all four gold medals at elite and under-23 level. Mathieu van der Poel and Fem van Empel will both be the main favourites to revalidate their titles.
Van der Poel leads a very strong team for the men's elite race. He will certainly not have a race only against the Belgian competition. In fact during yesterday's World Cup in Hoogerheide, he was joined by compatriots Joris Nieuwenhuis and Pim Ronhaar on the podium - and they, alongside Baloise - Trek Lions teammate Lars van der Haar - will be aiming for the podium.
Netherlands for men's Elite race: Lars van der Haar, Joris Nieuwenhuis, Mathieu van der Poel, Pim Ronhaar, Ryan Kamp and Corné van Kessel.
The women's field will be dominated by the nation, with certainty. Fem van Empel and Lucinda Brand will be big favourites for the gold. Puck Pieterse and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado have found health issues over the past week which may hamper them, but should be podium candidates nevertheless.
Netherlands for women's Elite race: Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, Fem van Empel, Puck Pieterse, Lucinda Brand, Annemarie Worst, Inge van der Heijden, Manon Bakker, Denise Betsema and Aniek van Alphen.
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However it is not only in the elite events that the nation will aim high. In both men's and women's under-23 races the Netherlands will have strong lineups with Tibor del Grosso and Leonie Bentveld in the lead.
Netherlands for men's U23 race: Tibor del Grosso, David Haverdings, Danny van Lierop, Lucas Janssen, Bailey Groenendaal and Guus van den Eijnden.
Netherlands for women's U23 race: Leonie Bentveld and Lauren Molengraaf.
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