Fem van Empel absent from Besançon World Cup to prepare for World Championships, Mathieu van der Poel confirmed in French cross

The Dutch team for the Besançon World Cup race the final of the year, has already been decided and revealed. Whilst many of the women will be absent in order to prepare for the World Championships, Mathieu van der Poel will race on in the men's race.

The winner of the Benidorm World Cup will hunt further success in France before targeting Hoogerheide. Lars van der Haar joins him, howevever in the women's field some of the main riders are missing as all Fem van Empel, Shirin van Anrooij and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado skip the final World Cup race to focus on the World Championships.

"With the women, many riders choose to build in some extra rest towards the world championship," national coach Gerben de Knegt said upon revealing the lineups. “And that also applies to some young people. Our goal is to be represented as strongly as possible in Hoogerheide, the athletes all have their own preference for that.”

Netherlands' men's Elite team for Besançon World Cup:

Mathieu van der Poel

Lars van der Haar

Pim Ronhaar

Ryan Kamp

Joris Nieuwhenhuis

Mees Hendrikx

Corné van Kessel

Stan Godrie

David van der Poel

Netherlands' women's Elite team for Besançon World Cup:

Lucinda Brand

Denise Betsema

Inge van der Heijden

Manon Bakker

Annemarie Worst

Aniek van Alphen