"Everyone there really wants to win and take those cobbles" - Sven Nys outlines importance and reputation of winning mythical Koppenbergcross

The Koppenbergcross is the next major cyclocross race and is one of the main goals of the season for many riders. The brutal Belgian race is one of the most important days of the early months of the winter, and Sven Nys who has won there nine times outlines it's importance.

“Most riders in our team (Baloise - Trek Lions, ed.) have chosen to drop the Superprestigecross of Ruddervoorde and go all out for Maasmechelen. The exception is Lars van der Haar, who does complete the entire program. Age is a factor that should not be underestimated. Someone over thirty, like Lars, can handle a lot of competition in a short time better than those young men, who can overtake themselves when it gets too busy," Nys shared with Wielerflits.

Van der Haar is the defending champion in the men's race and will be starting off the first round of the X20 Badkamers Trofee already with a massive win in Maasmechelen in the bad. With Thibau Nys' phenomenal start to the season as well, the Belgian team have a lot to look forward to this Wednesday. The race comes in between the Maasmechelen World Cup and the European Championships however Nys does not believe this will see riders saving themselves.

A few figures will miss out on the race, likely as they do not want to focus on the cup, and will instead gear up fully for this weekend's events. “The Koppenberg is an event in itself, which is rock solid. It doesn't matter what day it falls on. Everyone there really wants to win and take those cobbles home," Nys argues. "The Koppenberg is regarded as highly as a European championship, I am not worried about that.”