Only nine riders to represent the Netherlands in Cabras World Cup: "Many riders choose to organize a training camp instead"
CyclocrossTuesday, 03 December 2024 at 03:00
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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