"It will be hectic and dramatic" - Experts expect thrilling fight for European Championship on Sunday
Cyclocross
This Sunday, the first major jersey of the Cyclocross season is up for grabs is Spain at the 2024 European Championships. Michael Vanthourenhout has emerged victorious the last two years, but it could be a much harder to predict fight this time around, according to experts.
"It's a lot harder. The men will be the category that delivers the most exciting races. That used to be different," explains Paul Herygers in a preview for Sporza alongside Ruben van Gucht. But what of the favourites? Van Gucht puts forward the name of Lars van der Haar, fresh off the back of his Koppenbergcross triumph on Friday afternoon in Belgium.
"He's not getting any younger, of course. You take that into account. There are a lot of young talents in his team. You would think that he would launch those guys soon, because that's how you normally end your career," Herygers answers thoughtfully. "But that is not the case with Van der Haar. He is still a finisher. Nys' team still needs him to win."
In truth though, Herygers doesn't see much similarities between Koppenberg and the European Championship course and as such, can't see Van der Haar being able to carry that form into Sunday afternoon. "That all fades away. Let me go back in time: there were riders who couldn't win a flat prize here, but who would excel in Spain two days later," he explains. "That is also the case today. It is perfectly possible that a rider will emerge who was only 5th or 6th here and will soon turn the whole of Spain upside down. If Sunday's race would have the same level of difficulty as here, I would take it. But we just said it: there are riders like Van der Haar who can handle anything."
"It will be a very pleasant race to watch. I expect a closed group and then at some point maybe a daredevil who will shake things up. It could be that they will put the block on and that rider can ride away," Herygers concludes. "Then I think of Pontchâteau with Toon Aerts, for example. It could be that way. But it could also be that we get tension until the full final. Then it will be hectic and dramatic for some. I fear that it will be the latter option."
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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A fantastic victory 👏 🇳🇱 Lars van der Haar wins the 2024 Koppenbergcross 🏆 #CycloCross #Koppenbergcross
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