Belgium select debutant alongside Thibau Nys for cyclocross World Championships: "You used to look up to those men"

Emiel Verstrynge has been selected by the Belgian national coach to compete in the upcoming Cyclocross World Championships. This marks Verstrynge’s debut at the event, where he will race alongside team leader and European and Belgian Champion, Thibau Nys.

Speaking to Wielerflits, Verstrynge reflected on his challenging start to the cyclocross season. “At the beginning of the winter I had a hard time with the transition from a busy summer on the road to the cyclocross. It was a unique opportunity to take part in the World Championship for U23 riders on the road, I really worked towards that. But for those appointments you mainly work on the longer efforts, and in the cyclocross the opposite is expected of you. That's why it took some time to find your way.”

His season was further complicated by an injury. “To make matters worse, Verstrynge tore his hamstring at the time, which put him out of action for a while. Looking back, that period without competition wasn’t bad for me. It was a period in which I could do my thing well in training and I never had to stay off the bike. I was actually able to work towards the Christmas period perfectly. Maybe I was also extra eager to prove myself after a period without cyclo-cross and I was also extra fresh. That’s why the Christmas period was extra good.”

During the Christmas period, Verstrynge delivered impressive performances, securing podium finishes at World Cup Namur and World Cup Dendermonde. “I was hoping for such outliers, but I didn't dare expect it. And certainly not in the World Cup. But those results are very important to me. I'd rather ride a few times in the low top 10 and then twice on the podium, than finish fifth or sixth the entire year. A podium like that is always important and my season has already been a success.”

Looking ahead to his World Championship debut, Verstrynge expressed pride in his selection. “I feel that I belong among those first eight Belgians, and I expected it after the Christmas period. You don't always think about it enough, but it is still an honour. You used to look up to those men. You sometimes don't realise it and you keep on trying to ride results and perform, but it is something unique.”