“It is not clear when she will race again" — Former world champion's return to racing uncertain as knee injury proves more of a concern than initially hoped
Cyclocross
Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado’s comeback has been dealt a fresh setback, with the former world champion still unable to pin down a return date as she continues to battle a lingering knee injury.
The 25-year-old had been due to resume competition at Tabor on 23 November, but that target has now been ruled out as her recovery stalls. Speaking to Sporza, team boss Christoph Roodhooft admitted the situation remains open-ended.
“It is not clear when she will race again. The initial plan was Tabor (23 November), but that will be too soon.”
That assessment marks a shift from a week earlier, when Roodhooft suggested progress was moving in the right direction as Alvarado completed her first off-road training sessions. The Dutch rider had steadily increased load in recent weeks, but discomfort has persisted and the team will not rush her back.
Delayed start for one of last winter’s standout performers
The setback comes after two of the strongest winters of Alvarado’s senior career.
After winning the overall World Cup in 2023/24, she backed that campaign up with another consistent and high-quality run in 2024/25. Her results included World Cup victories in Namur and Zonhoven, silver at the European Championships, a string of Superprestige wins and podiums, and seventh at the World Championships.
Those performances cemented her place alongside Fem van Empel and Puck Pieterse at the front of the sport, leaving expectation that she would once again be a major factor from the opening rounds this season.
Instead, her winter begins on the sidelines — and with no timeline yet in place.
Alvarado was world champion back in 2020
No shortcuts as season gathers pace
With the women’s field already at full tilt — Van Empel as always proving to be a benchmark and Lucinda Brand in winning form — Alvarado’s delayed start keeps another headline contender out of the front of the race.
Her strength across varied courses last winter — excelling on heavy, technical laps as well as faster circuits — suggested she was well-placed to build on consecutive strong seasons. But for now, ongoing knee irritation has made caution unavoidable.
The team remains optimistic about her long-term outlook, yet the absence of a clear target reflects a priority on full resolution over urgency. When she does return, Alvarado will face a field already deep into its rhythm — but her performances over the past two seasons show she has the level to re-establish herself quickly once fully fit.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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