No van der Poel or Pieterse; but Netherlands head into cyclocross European Championships with many gold medal ambitions

The Netherlands have revealed their teams for the upcoming Cyclocross European Championships which will take place in the unusual location of Pontevedra, in the northwest of Spain. A few riders will have to make a quick trip straight from the Koppenbergcross which will happen on a Friday, but the Dutch will have all the riders 'who want to be there' present.

Team national coach Gerben de Knegt said in a press release: "At the start of the season, the athletes do not have many competitions under their belts, but I think that we can start with medal and sometimes even title aspirations in all categories... All the top athletes who want to ride are there. And we are certainly starting with ambitions. Although I have to say that we are encountering an atypical cross-country course in a city park with not too many technical parts". This could lead to some interesting racing, as this could be a race comparable to that of the World Cup in Benidorm which proved thrilling last year. 

"Everyone who starts should in principle be able to ride in the top 10. There are a number of top athletes who are not there. Joris Nieuwenhuis is recovering from shingles and Corné van Kessel has chosen to focus fully on the Koppenbergcross," de Knegt said of the men's team. This will feature Lars van der Haar who has talked about the logistics behind the trip and comes in as a big favourite just after his triumph at the Nacht van Woerden; Pim Ronhaar who broke through last year with some great performances; and also surprisingly Ryan Kamp who crashed hard last weekend in Ruddervoorde.

Netherlands for men's Cyclocross European Championships:
Lars van der Haar
Pim Ronhaar
Ryan Kamp
Mees Hendrikx

The women's team also has some absences, but those due to illnesses, injuries and option. "Furthermore, we are missing Annemarie Worst, who has not yet competed due to a previous COVID infection, but also Puck Pieterse and Shirin van Anrooij". The team will start with Fem van Empel, Lucinda Brand and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado among other names, who should be the three main favourites for the title.

Netherlands for women's Cyclocross European Championships:
Fem van Empel
Lucinda Brand
Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
Denise Betsema
Inge van der Heijden
Anninek van Alphen
Manon Bakker