“Michael is improving week after week” - Belgium team manager on Vanthourenhout’s form ahead of World Championships

Ahead of the Cyclocross World Championships in Tábor this weekend, the Belgium national team manager Jurgen Mettepenningen has been talking about his riders’ chances for the race.

With Mathieu van der Poel the overwhelming favourite to retain his World title that he won in Hoogerheide last year, the other riders will likely be competing for the bottom two steps of the podium.

Mettepenningen is more than aware of this, as he said in an interview with WielerFlits that “Thibau Nys and my leaders Eli Iserbyt and Michael Vanthourenhout have to hunt for that podium place. Aiming higher would be nonsense”.

Vanthourenhout had been a doubt at times this season, as he had been struggling for form after his European Championships victory in Pontchâteau in November, as he has suffered from illness and has only returned to full health as recently as the Belgian National Championships last month.

However, his recent results have been a lot more promising, with wins in Gullegem and Zonnebeke, as well as strong performances in Benidorm and Hamme, as he finished second at both races and pushed the likes of Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel to the very end of the race.

Mettepenningen recognised this in his interview, stating that “Michael is improving week after week. If he manages to stay healthy this week, we will see a very strong Michael in Tábor. One that is at its peak condition”.