Eli Iserbyt, the reigning Cyclocross World Cup champion, is
gearing up for the upcoming season with cautious optimism. The 26-year-old
Belgian rider, who has already earned two bronze medals at the Cyclocross World
Championships in 2022 and 2023, believes that new challenges await him as he
prepares to defend his title. Iserbyt has faced some of the sport's biggest
names, finishing behind the unstoppable Mathieu van der Poel in recent years.
As an experienced rider, Iserbyt is fully aware that the
competition will be tough this year. Ahead of his participation in the Gravel
World Championships last week, he spoke to WielerFlits about his form
heading into the cyclocross season. “My condition should already be good. Of
course, I focused on the cyclocross in training, where you only get to compete
for an hour. A 180-kilometre Gravel World Championship is something completely
different. I’m not going to take any risks, although that might be different
when I’m in the race,” he explained.
When asked about his evolving role in the cyclocross scene,
Iserbyt acknowledged that he's no longer one of the younger competitors.
"I don't want to call myself old yet, but I'm not part of the youth
anymore. So, I think it's exciting. On the other hand, it's also cool, because
it's no longer up to me to be the up-and-coming man. I'll have to defend my
place and win as many races as possible. I think that's a cool challenge."
Reflecting on the potential competition from two of
cyclocross's biggest names, Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel, Iserbyt
offered his insights. “Given Wout's injury, I think he might race a bit faster
to get into rhythm,” he noted.
"As for Mathieu, he's had a busy season on the road. So
he might be a little less inclined to go back to cyclocross soon,” he added,
hinting that his rivals' schedules could open opportunities for others to
shine.
As the cyclocross season draws near, Iserbyt looks ready to
face both familiar and new challenges head-on, with the goal of defending his
title and continuing his winning ways.
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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