PREVIEW | Cyclocross World Cup Dublin 2024-2025 Men & Women - Favourites, Track, TV Guide & Poll

On the 1st of December we have got round 2 of the Cyclocross UCI World Cup taking place in Dublin, Ireland. We preview one of the most recent additions to the discipline's top cup, a different cross than the ones riders are typically used to.

Without recent rainy or snowy conditions we have a relatively dry track which is not too muddy. But this is a cross that takes place fully in a grass park which is not exactly fast and can become quite draining even in dry conditions. This is ultimately a race that is to be done mostly with seated efforts and very few zones where you can rest. There is a large sandpit that most riders should tackle comfortably but it provides for an opportunity to create differences.

Towards the end of the course the riders do find a longer climb and muddy conditions which will be very tough and favour certain riders quite a bit more. We don't have a mudfest but it will certainly be a change when comparing to the last month and a half.

*** Fem van Empel
** Lucinda Brand, Blanka Kata Vas
* Inge van der Heijden, Marie Schreiber, Marion Norbert Riberolle

Prediction: Fem van Empel

Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado will not be at the start due to illness and priority for other races, but she wouldn't take the win on a race like this. Sara Casasola is also absent. Fem van Empel finds an almost ideal course to her abilities and it will be very hard not to see her win. Fairly, I do think Lucinda Brand will also be well suited to this slow grinding course but van Empel on normal conditions should be above the rest and there's no real room for crashes on this one. I believe the two will be quite far apart from the rest of the field and that the opening gap will be created quite early in the race as Brand usually has slower starts.

Behind a fight for the podium and UCI points. Last week Marie Schreiber thrived but I do not see her race as well this time around on such a course, she will be a contender but teammate Blanka Kata Vas may be better suited actually. Marion Norbert Riberolle could also be a nice surprise in my opinion today. Manon Bakker, Annemarie Worst, Inge van der Heijden, Denise Betsema, Laura Verdonschot, Hélène Clauzel, Zoe Bäckstedt and Amandine Fouquenet are all riders to contest for the Top10 spots.

*** Michael Vanthourenhout
** Lars van der Haar, Thibau Nys
* Laurens Sweeck, Eli Iserbyt, Pim Ronhaar

Prediction: Michael Vanthourenhout

Last week we had Eli Iserbyt win in the sandy course of Antwerpen but now he faces a completely different course in slow and muddy Dublin. This will not suit him, and his World Cup lead will certainly be at risk. Laurens Sweeck was second last week and in peak form he can certainly finish among the best again, but his inconsistency this season does worry and isn't the best sign into a race where gaps will be created early on.

In the mud I see someone like Michael Vanthourenhout thriving and I think it's been due for the past few weeks, I think he can certainly take this win this time around. I would not discard Lars van der Haar who hasn't won for a while but showed great form in the early weeks of the season. Pim Ronhaar and Cameron Mason are in my opinion perfectly suited to this race but their form is a question mark and you can't win here without being at your best. Joran Wyseure does quite well in the sand and was fourth last week, it'll be interesting to see what he can do this time around.

We have the Thibau Nys question, I don't know what to expect from him here, I don't think the course suits him too well but if he has his best legs and avoids mishaps then a win is possible. Toon Aerts will start from the back but it will be interesting to see how high he can go in what will be a tough course, and Felipe Orts will also be an interesting wildcard, seeing if he really does enjoy the mud more than the faster courses.

Include also in the outsiders list riders like Corne van Kessel, Jens Adams, Gerben Kuypers, Michael Boros, Kevin Kuhn and David Menut who will look to finish within the Top10.

The women's race will start at 14:10 and end at around 15:00 local time. The men's race will start at 15:40 and end at 16:45 local time.

You can watch the broadcast of the race at the UCI website and Eurosport/Max internationally, as well as the traditional outlets. The channels which will broadcast the race will include Sporza (Belgium), and Ceska Televize (Czech Republic) and NOS (Netherlands).