"Cyclocross isn't easy these days": Former world champion says about the incredible growth of cyclocross

In the shadow of the currently finishing road season, the cyclocross campaign has taken off week ago also in Europe. In the Meulebeke Exact Cross, it was a showdown of the Crelan-Corendon riders who claimed a double with Joran Wyseure and Laurens Sweeck. The next stop for the big guns will be the opening Superprestige round in Reddervoorde where Wyseure will be defending a victory from last year. But all of that without the top stars, of which Thibau Nys will join first in November.

"At the first cyclocross race of the season in Meulebeke, I heard a colleague say he thought the turnout was dismal," says analyst and former cyclocross world champion Paul Herygers in an interview with WielerFlits. "But believe me: the elite has really grown since last year. All those guys, who were just 'junkies' a few years ago, have become men who can race cyclocross. They compete for prizes worldwide and can finish it."

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The next big event will be held in Ruddervoorde on Sunday and the competition will be as fierce as last weekend with winner Joran Wyseure leading the pack. "In Ruddervoorde, only one can win again," Herygers points out. "Cyclocross isn't easy these days. Almost no one will be able to say: I'm dominating a handful of cyclocross races, something you used to see more often."

But the European champion could change that in absence of stars Mathieu van der Poel and Wout Van Aert: "I think Thibau Nys finally has the field open. He no longer has to doubt whether he can complete a full cyclocross season, or whether he has weaknesses. In the specific cyclocross races he mentioned, he'll be greedy. Not that he'll take the whole loaf, but he'll take half. Then the rest will have to make do with leftovers. And if Van der Poel comes back in December, he'll have to make do."

Another name to watch out, according to Herygers, will be Toon Aerts. Thanks to a partnership between his cyclocross Team Deschacht-Hens-FSP and Pro-team Lotto. There he enjoyed an extensive road programme this summer which should help him restore foundation lost during his racing ban. Now the 31-year-old is predicted to be back to competing against the best.

"That must have been good for Toon. It will make him a different rider, after what may have been a transitional year last winter. In the first half of the season, he always had to start at the back because he didn't have any UCI points."