No Eli Iserbyt at Gavere World Cup due to longing injury - Mathieu van der Poel and Fem van Empel headline post-Christmas race

The Christmas block is fully under way and today there is the World Cup Gavere to give the first taste of racing after Christmas. Mathieu van der Poel and Fem van Empel who is coming back from illness headline the men's and women's races.

The men's race will not be able to count on Eli Iserbyt, who has in recent weeks been struggling with a nerve injury that ocasionally affects him and hinders his performances. The World Cup standings will be harmed by this absence, but it will no longer be a goal. "I want to give my body some rest for the tough program that is still to come," Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal shared.

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This Thursday's race will count on Mathieu van der Poel to headline the men's field as the main favourite to win the race. Most of the big figures will be present on the eve of Wout van Aert's return: Lars van der Haar, Pim Ronhaar, Tibor del Grosso, Michael Vanthourenhout, Niels Vandeputte, Laurens Sweeck, Thibau Nys, Emiel Verstrynge, Toon Aerts, Felipe Orts, Kevin Kuhn, Joran Wyseure and Cameron Mason.

In the meantime, Fem van Empel is back to racing this week and will be aiming for the win in the women's race where she will face the likes of Lucinda Brand and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado; but also Puck Pieterse, Inge van der Heijden, Marion Norbert Riberolle, Zoe Bäckstedt, Sara Casasola, Marie Schreiber and Blanka Kata Vas.

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The only cross race Mathieu van der Poel may not win this winter, according to Niels Albert: "Things could get really bad in Dendermonde"

'Back on Track ' - Wout van Aert recovers from illness and back to training ahead of battle with Mathieu van der Poel

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