17/12/2022

PREVIEW | Cyclocross Val di Sole World Cup Men&Women - Favourites, Track, TV Guide & Poll

Back in Italy for the 10th round of the Cyclocross World Cup, and this 17th of December will see a race that is unlike any other in the main calendar, as the riders take on the high-altitude Val di Sole course which will be packed with snow.

The snow is fully present on course, and snow has fallen this Friday. The temperatures will not come to positive numbers at all, and so it will be a cold environment even for the experienced pros. Without any surprise, the main feature of the track will be the snow itself. Although not as complicated, it will have a somewhat similar effect to the sand, and the whole track essentially will be covered (in what I believe will be a thin layer as the organizers want a bike race, not a running event).

Video 2022 Val di Sole World Cup. Filippo Agostinacchio/Youtube

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The track really isn't technical if you look at it without snow. There will be a couple of short running sections, barriers, but that's essentially it. But the snow will make it all different. This won't be a race where you can ride in a group, nor will you take virtually any benefit from, since traction and choice of line will be key throughout the whole race, to prevent mistakes from happening.

These will happen however, but it's a matter of limiting them as much as possible. If the layer of snow is thinner it can look more like a normal race, however if the course isn't treated often the races are sure to be treacherous, slow and with large gaps.

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The battle for the win seems to be a pretty clear affair. Fem van Empel and Puck Pieterse continue their run of races, as both look to defend their Elite and under-23 World Cup leads respectively. They are now first and second in the cup however but it is not viable that van Empel will lose it unless something dramatic happens. She took her first World Cup win here last year, however the technical course will see Pieterse likely at the same level as her.

Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado could make herself present in the fight for the victory too, on a good day. She may have competition in the fight for the podium too, I recon Blanka Kata Vas could have a say, as is the case with the country's best Silvia Persico who has not yet raced internationally this year, and could be a very big wildcard in this event. Hélène Clauzel, Marie Schreiber and Mannon Bakker should be in the mix for the top positions too, last year's third place Magalie Rochette could surprise in these conditions.

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In the men's race there will be the fight for the win and the fight for the World Cup. Mathieu van der Poel will only be interested in the first, he's had a lot of motivation to come to Italy and race, and the technical aspect of the race should be to his liking, it will not be easy to beat him. Wout van Aert and Tom Pidcock are missing, however he should have a run for his money with other riders. Laurens Sweeck rode to second last week in Dublin and the sketchy conditions should fit him, and I would say Michael Vanthourenhout too.

Eli Iserbyt will want to be in the fight too, as the World Cup lead begins to slip away, however such a sketchy and complicated track to keep a constant pace is, in my opinion, not good news to him. Last week he's seen the likes of Jens Adams and Pim Ronhaar battle alongside him, this weekend could see a similar fight. Kevin Kuhn, Toon Vandebosch, Niels Vandeputte and Corné van Kessel who has finally returned to good form after the comeback from his injury will all be worthy outsiders for this special race.

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The women's race will start at 13:00 local time (13:00CET) and is estimated to finish at 13:50 local time (13:50CET). The men's race is set to start at 14:30 local time (14:30CET) and is estimated to finish at around 15:35 local time (15:35CET).

You can watch the broadcast of the race at the UCI website; GCN+/Eurosport Player internationally. The channels which will broadcast the race will be Flobikes (Canada/USA), Telenet PlaySports and Proximus (Belgium), L'Équipe (France), Ceská Televize (Czech Republic), Rai Sport (Italy), TV2/Play Danmark (Denmark) and TV2 Norge (Norway).