Cyclocross worlds preview

By Ian Landau

[Updated] While many U.S. cross fanatics hung up their knobby-tired bikes after nationals back in December, the big shots in Europe were just moving into the meatiest time of the season. With World Cups and Super Prestige races still on the menu, not to mention some other big-time nonseries events, the Euro cross scene was going full blast while we here in the U.S. were indulging in our holiday binge fests.

But this weekend, in Tabor [pronounced TAH-bore], Czech Republic, the world cross scene reaches its pinnacle with the 2009–2010 UCI Cyclocross World Championships.

And if there’s one thing we can guarantee, it’s that it’s gonna be a great show.

The two-day event, beginning Saturday, is the Super Bowl of cyclocross racing, or the World Cup of cross. You get the idea. So far, the big story leading up to the race is the snowy course. This is the goddamn Czech Republic, after all, so snow is to be expected. It won’t bother many of the seasoned pros, who at this point have seen all kinds of weather in Europe. It wouldn’t matter if it was raining knedliky-size hailstones—these guys and gals would easily shrug it off as another day at the office.

Some riders from warmer climates may be in for a shock, but not the Mongolian team, whose patron is none other than the Lion of Flanders himself, Classics King Johan Meuseeuw. In any event, the weather forecast for Tabor looks excellent for both days, with highs just under freezing and a 30 percent chance of flurries.

But enough of the lead-up. Who’s in contention for the win this weekend?

First up is the women, who race before the men on Sunday.

Katie Compton—USA

Compton started the season on fire, winning several races in dominating fashion, and besting here main Euro rivals: reigning world champ Marianne Vos and Vos’s fellow Dutchwoman, Daphny Ven den Brand. But of late, Compton has had a recurrence of the debilitating chronic leg cramps that have stricken her at inopportune times for the past several years. But this is the win that Compton has worked so hard for, and nothing will stop her from giving it her all on Sunday.

Daphny Van den Brand—the Netherlands

Van den Brand just won the World Cup overall with solid performances at the final two World Cup stops in Roubaix and Hoogerheide. Always strong at worlds, she’s peaking at the right moment and will be in the mix for sure. The only question for her is how the team tactics play out with her countrywoman, Marianne Vos. If Vos goes early or is riding exceedingly strong, Van den Brand will no doubt have to mark the riders behind, and not be seen as chasing Vos down.

Hanka Kupfernagel—Germany

At 35 (13 years older than Vos), Kupfernagel is still very much a player in elite cross. A winner of three previous rainbow jerseys, Kupfernagel will give the youngsters a run for their money.

Katerina Nash—Czech Republic

Nash just won the Roubaix World Cup a few weekends ago. U.S. riders know her well, as she rides for the U.S. trade team Luna. She has really stepped up her game this season, and as the Czech national champion she’ll be riding in front of her home crowd. Anything less than the podium for Nash will be a disappointment for her.

Marianne Vos—the Netherlands
The reigning world champ has had a typically strong season to date, including the win just last weekend at the final World Cup stop in Hoogerheide (the same spot where she won her rainbow jersey last year). She is the odds-on favorite for Sunday’s women’s race, and will be the rider everyone else will have to watch. Incredibly, she is only 22 years old (she’ll be 23 in May), and a win Sunday would be her third world championship gold medal (in addition to last year, she won in 2006, at 19!).

Now for the men.

The men’s race appears to be a three-horse race, as it’s been all season.

Zdenk Štybar—Czech Republic

Like Nash, Štybar is the Czech national champ and thus has much to prove racing on home turf. He’s also this season’s World Cup champ and made the podium six times this season in World Cup events—taking the top spot in Koksijde, Igorre, and Roubaix. At 24, Štybar has an amazing future ahead, and Sunday could be the first of many rainbow jerseys for the lanky rider.

Sven Nys—Belgium

At 33, Nys is still one of the most dominating cross racers in the world. He’s been dishing out pain to his competition for more than a decade, but he’s won only one World Championship, in 2004–2005. The shitty conditions in Tabor will no doubt suit Nys, and he’s got a great chance to add world championship gold medal No. 2 to his overflowing trophy case.

Niels Albert—Belgium

Albert won last year’s worlds in Hoogerheide, yet his year in the arc-en-ciel has not been all wine and roses, or Chimay and waffles. The Belgian fans have given him some shit this year for questionable racing tactics, and in response Albert has said he may follow in the footsteps of 2007–2008 world champ Lars Boom and pursue road racing. Still, Albert had a fantastic year, crushing the early season races and taking three World Cup wins, two Superprestige wins, and two GVA Trophy wins. Like Van den Brand, Albert may be forced to play the loyal teammate if Nys—so good in the snow and ice—goes early.

I know some of you out there are probably wondering, What about the rest of Team USA, beyond Compton? Without a doubt, the American women will be racing for high places. Look for Laura Van Gilder, Amy Dombroski, Mo Bruno-Roy, and Meredith Miller to be fighting for spots in the top ten to 20.

For the guys, it’ll be interesting to see who places highest among Jonathan Page, Tim Johnson, Jamey Driscoll, Jeremy Powers, and Ryan Trebon.

Watch the race on UniversalSports.com, and check out expert live coverage from CXMagazine.com.

Enjoy the racing. It should be brilliant.