Only nine riders to represent the Netherlands in Cabras World Cup: "Many riders choose to organize a training camp instead"
Cyclocross
After a stop in Ireland, the Cyclocross World Cup moves to Sardinia for rather exotic CX destination. Well at some parts of it, as many top riders chose to use this opportunity to get some training kilometers in the legs instead of competing in Cabras, which is the only UCI cyclocross scheduled for this weekend thanks to UCI's new rule to "push" riders to compete in all World Cup rounds. Well it's fair to say that didn't pan out very well.
"The nine names are the sum of all the phone calls I made to inquire who wants to ride," says national coach Gerben de Knegt on the KNWU website. "Many riders choose to organize a training camp instead of an expensive and logistically difficult trip to Italy. That means you miss a World Cup race, but at the same time this is also a weekend with only one cyclocross."
“Towards the busy Christmas period and the championships, many athletes choose to invest in training kilometres on the road again and, all in all, this is the best time for that in their eyes. I understand that.”
The absence of the likes of Fem van Empel and Ceylin Alvarado gives opportunities for women riders who would not normally ride a World Cup, such as Bloeme Kalis and Pem Hoefmans. De Knegt thinks it is great that these "two young riders are investing their time, money and energy in riding this race", he says.
"There is room for that now because not many top riders are traveling. In this way, they can gain World Cup experience and score UCI points. In doing so, they are investing in their cyclo-cross future."
Dutch selection for the Women's World Cup in Cabras:
In the men's race, the Netherlands are saying pretty much all they have even with the selected 'four' even though results-wise it may not seem as much compared to their Belgian counterparts. But with limited competition, there may be a chance for the Dutch men lead by Baloise - Trek Lions riders Lars van der Haar and Pim Ronhaar to strike a better-than-solid result.
Dutch selection for the Men's World Cup in Cabras:
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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