Belgium refuse to accept defeat at European Cyclocross Championships: “Anything less than the title would be a disappointment”
Cyclocross
This weekend, the European Cyclocross Championships will
take place in Pontevedra, Spain. While Belgium heads to the event without its
top star, Wout van Aert, the national team remains confident in their strength
and is setting their sights on nothing less than victory. National coach Angelo
De Clercq made the team’s ambitions clear, telling Sporza, “We start
with eight strong men and anything less than the title would be a
disappointment.”
Leading the Belgian squad is reigning champion Michael
Vanthourenhout, who has a reputation for rising to the occasion in championship
settings. “At championships, Michael often becomes the best version of himself.
There is a big chance that he will end up on the highest podium for the third
time,” De Clercq commented, highlighting Vanthourenhout’s potential to defend
his title.
Belgium’s talent pool has already made waves this season,
with a variety of riders claiming victories. “We have already had a lot of
different winners this season. That says enough. I expect a number of Belgians
to fight for the title,” De Clercq said, expressing optimism about his team’s
depth and versatility.
On the women’s side, however, De Clercq acknowledged the
formidable challenge posed by the Dutch team, particularly Fem van Empel, who
is a clear favourite. “The Dutch team starts with the most outspoken
favourites,” he admitted. “I hope for a super day for our women, but we have to
remain realistic.”
As the Belgian team prepares to compete in Pontevedra, the
pressure is on to bring home gold, with high expectations for both the men’s
and women’s races. While the men aim for the podium's top spot, the women face
a tough battle but hope to rise to the occasion against strong competition.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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