PREVIEW | Cyclocross European Championships 2024-2025 Pontevedra Men & Women

On the 3rd of November we've got the main events of the 2024-2025 Cyclocross European Championships. The races will take place in Pontevedra, Spain, and it will provide very spectacular races in a very fast course. We preview the races ahead.

Just as is the case in Benidorm, this is a very fast and very flat cross. Being flat is one thing, but the surface is very packed, even in the humid areas that could've grown muddy. After walking through the entire course it became apparent that it's going to be a very close race - which honestly, should make it more unpredictable and exciting. The reality is we've got a cross where tactics will be key and it will not be solely about the legs.

The first half of the circuit has large straights, flat, mostly in gravel/packed dirt areas where slipstreaming does make a difference. The planks are quite high and we see a few riders capable of hopping them, which can be quite a good advantage. The final meters do have a small technical section and then a short but very punchy climb right before the finishing straight.

This is a circuit where you can't make big differences, but you can also struggle to close gaps quite a lot. The forecast is sunny but today some rain fell during the race, making it slippery in some sections and leading to mishaps. This can happen again. The rain didn't make the technical sections harder but instead, the excess of confidence from dry conditions may lead to mistakes. This is going to be a race of avoiding errors, because this will cost you a couple of seconds that are then very hard to gain back. Tactics can decide the race, because any big gap that opens will be brutal to close down.

*** Fem van Empel
** Lucinda Brand, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
* Sara Casasola, Inge van der Heijden, Laura Verdonschot

Prediction: Fem van Empel

A battle between the Dutchwomen, this won't come as a surprise. Sara Casasola is in great form but this isn't a track quite for her skills, whilst Laura Verdonschot should also be in contention for a Top5. The course suits Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado the best in my opinion, but it balances out the fact that both Lucinda Brand and Fem van Empel look to be a little above. I wouldn't be surprised to see this come down to the final lap and be decided by someone making a small error.

*** Thibau Nys
** Eli Iserbyt, Lars van der Haar
* Niels Vandeputte, Felipe Orts, Michael Vanthourenhout

Prediction: Thibau Nys

A race where team and teammates can be crucial, but it's an European title and I don't think riders travelled to Spain to just gift a victory. I think any gap that opens is a threat, if someone with a big engine like Lars van der Haar does it it's game over for the rest. The explosivity of the course is perfect for Eli Iserbyt, but Thibau Nys will also really like it and the weight difference may prove deadly for Iserbyt if he loses the wheels at some point.

The country's star Felipe Orts will be roared by the crowds, and I believe is favoured by such a fast course and could well be in the medals. Niels Vandeputte and Gerben Kuypers in my opinion will also be well suited to this course; whilst Pim Ronhaar and Michael Vanthourenhout may not have the legs to make the difference as we lack long efforts or any seated climb. Toon Aerts is a bit of a wildcard, but I reckon not very explosive and so not a big favourite for the win.

The women's race will start at 14:10 and end at around 15:00 local time. The men's race will start at 15:30 and end at 16:05 local time.

You can watch the broadcast of the race at the UCI website and Eurosport Player internationally, as well as the traditional outlets. The channels which will broadcast the race will include Sporza (Belgium), and RTBF Tipik (Czech Republic), NOS (Netherlands), TVP (Poland) and also on the 'Federación Galega de Ciclismo' Youtube channel.