"10 people can win here" - Paul Herygers predicts open European Championship fight in Pontevedra

Later this afternoon in Pontevedra, the first jersey of the 2024/25 cyclocross season is up for grabs at the European Championships. According to 1994 world champion and now Sporza expert Paul Herygers, it could be an incredibly open fight.

"I think it's a classy course. I don't buy into the talk that goes around that it's too easy or that they could do more with it. It's a course for the average citizen, 10 people can win here. And in the end, only one can win," Herygers previews of the upcoming battle in conversation with Sporza, noting the sandpit as a particular point of interest. "For the first one who has to roll through it, it will be the hardest. There will also be no more tractors driving over it between races, so it will be a piece of cake."

"Some technique is needed at a certain point and there are also passages in the nature reserve that are very narrow. But the riders will have to determine the cross themselves," continues Herygers' analysis. "Are they going to use team tactics? Are they going to play the country game? That will be an important point to look forward to. There is a very steep section at the end, you can still force something there."

As mentioned, Herygers predicts an open fight for victory and as such, finds it difficult to name a pre-race favourite. "It will be an exciting cross because it is a course for so many crossers. It is not as specific as the Koppenberg or Beringen. This is a normal cross with the European jersey at stake," he concludes. "We don't have to put names on it. But a lot of Belgians and a few Dutch, that's what we will have to make do with."

At the last two editions, Michael Vanthourenhout has emerged victorious. Can the Belgian make it a hat-trick later today?