"In my mind the selection is complete" - Sven Vanthourenhout already knows his selection for Belgian squad at Cyclocross World Championships

With the 2024 Cyclocross World Championships in Tabor quickly approaching, it seems Belgian national coach, Sven Vanthourenhout already knows the selection of riders he'll take with him to the Czech Republic.

“I know well what everyone's qualities are. I know those boys through and through,” explains the national coach in conversation with Wielerflits. “I don't want to mention names as a matter of certitude, because boys can always drop out. But when you make the bill, you quickly see: the list is not very long. There are quite a few absentees, right?"

Whilst the likes of Eli Iserbyt, Michael Vanthourenhout and Thibau Nys among others are likely to be in the fold, as the national coach mentions, plenty of the big names are set to be absent. "For me, Wout van Aert, Toon Aerts, Tim Merlier, Quinten Hermans, Gianni Vermeersch, Gerben Kuypers and Daan Soete are all guys who you can always add to your list," he explains. "Without them you will see the potential World Championship participants shrink rapidly. In my mind the selection is complete, but everyone has to stay healthy.”

Although Mathieu van der Poel will start as the heavy odds-on favourite, does Vanthourenhout believe his riders can challenge the Dutchman? “We currently assume that Mathieu will become world champion,” answers Vanthourenhout. “But I think you always have to be ready in case he doesn't make it, no matter how small the chance is. I don't want to mention doomsday scenarios such as snow and ice in which Mathieu would not win. I have way too much respect for the person and athlete Mathieu van der Poel for that. But we have to be ready.”