Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado hopes she'll be back in time to challenge her Fenix-Deceuninck teammate Puck Pieterse for second National title. The 2020 champion dropped out of the World Cup Dendermonde with back pain which provided grounds for question whether she'll be ready to race this weekend.
However it is said that abandoning the World Cup cross was merely a precaution. At least such is the information provided on her team's Instagram. "She stepped down due to back pain and did not want to jeopardize her preparation for the National Championships. Fortunately, she now has a week to recover and prepare to compete at her best. Fingers crossed."
If Alvarado recovers in time for the Nationals, she's likely to immediately become Puck Pieterse's biggest competitor in the battle for the red-white-blue. That is because both the World Champion Fem van Empel and current Dutch champion Lucinda Brand already withdrew from the battle for national cyclocross title.