"It will certainly be tough" - Adrie van der Poel believes challenging Cyclocross World Championship course will be decisive

Course builder and father to one of the race favourites, Adrie van der Poel has described how the cyclocross World Championship in Hoogerheide is set to "certainly be tough."

"It will certainly be tough, but of course it shouldn't become a running race," van der Poel says to Omroep Brabant. "We have been doing this for years with a permanent group of enthusiastic people. We have some new things in the course for the World Championship, so that's great fun."

Despite the fact his son Mathieu van der Poel is one of the favourites for overall victory in Hoogerheide, van der Poel senior is determined to do everything possible to ensure he can't be accused of bias in his course building. "No, that won't work, will it?" he explains. "You have to make do with what you have."

The weather could also still play a part in the final design of the course for the race. "That's why we're waiting a while before setting out some pieces," van der Poel reveals. "If there is still some wetness, we will have to start puzzling. Especially about the piece at the material station and the VIP tent."