benidorm World Cup: A Crucial Stop Before the World Championships
Table of Contents
This Sunday, the Benidorm circuit will host the ninth round of the World Cup, marking a pivotal moment for athletes like Marie Schreiber and Fem Van Empel as they prepare for the upcoming World Championships in Liévin. With its rolling terrain and challenging features, the Spanish course promises to test the mettle of the world’s top cyclists.
The Benidorm Circuit: A Unique Challenge
The Benidorm circuit is a stark contrast to the World Championships route in Liévin,which features a 2,500-meter rolling and physical course with 75 meters of positive altitude difference. While the Liévin circuit includes long staircases and footbridges that force riders to shoulder their bikes, Benidorm offers a different kind of test.
Weather conditions could play a significant role. Forecasts predict a sunny period with temperatures around ten degrees, creating almost spring-like conditions. However, as always in cycling, the terrain’s nature—whether frozen, muddy, or thawed—will ultimately shape the race.
Marie Schreiber’s Comeback
Marie Schreiber, the national champion from Luxembourg, is currently fourth in the general classification and second in the hopes category behind Zoe Bäckstedt. Schreiber, who dominated the Dutch round in Hulst, has made the general classification a key goal this season.
Despite a rocky start to the year—marked by illness and subpar performances in Besançon and Dendermonde—Schreiber has bounced back. “I had a difficult time at the start of the year,” she admitted. But that’s behind her now. After securing her third national title, Schreiber headed straight to Spain for training, joining her SD Worx-Protime team in Denia.
Fem Van empel and Lucinda Brand: The Elite Contenders
Fem Van Empel, the reigning elite world champion, won in Benidorm last year and claimed her second consecutive title in tabor.Though, recent performances have shown her to be slightly less dominant compared to Lucinda Brand, who has been in remarkable form.
Both Van Empel and Brand have been training in Spain for over two weeks, highlighting the importance of this preparation phase ahead of the World Championships.Meanwhile, Zoe Bäckstedt continues to lead the hopes category, with Liv Wenzel also showing strong form.
Wout van Aert’s Road Ahead
Among the men, Wout van Aert is a standout name. The Belgian rider, who recently won at Gullegem and Dendermonde, will compete in Benidorm and Maasmechelen before shifting his focus back to road cycling. Van Aert, who feels “in great shape,” will not participate in the World Championships in Liévin, unlike Mathieu Van der Poel, who will skip Benidorm but compete in Hoogerheide and Liévin.
What to Watch This Sunday
This round in Benidorm is more then just a race—it’s a litmus test for the World Championships. While the dry result may not be definitive,it will offer valuable insights into the form of key contenders like Van Empel and Schreiber.
Key Highlights of the benidorm World Cup
| Category | Key Contenders | Recent Form |
|———————|—————————–|——————————————|
| Elite Women | Fem Van Empel, Lucinda brand | Van Empel less dominant, Brand in form |
| Hopes Women | Zoe Bäckstedt, Marie Schreiber | Bäckstedt leads, Schreiber on comeback |
| Elite Men | Wout van Aert | Recent wins at Gullegem and Dendermonde |
Looking Ahead
After Benidorm, the World Cup will move to Maasmechelen and Hoogerheide, serving as the final tune-ups before the World Championships in Liévin. For riders like Schreiber and Van Empel, thes races are crucial for fine-tuning their strategies and building momentum.
As the cycling world turns its attention to Benidorm,one thing is clear: this Sunday’s race will be a thrilling preview of the battles to come at the World Championships.
Stay tuned for live updates and in-depth analysis of the Benidorm World Cup as the world’s best cyclists vie for glory on this iconic circuit.
benidorm World Cup: A Crucial Stop Before the World Championships
This Sunday, the Benidorm circuit will host the ninth round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, marking a pivotal moment for athletes like Marie schreiber and Fem Van Empel as they prepare for the upcoming World Championships in Liévin. With its rolling terrain and challenging features, the Spanish course promises to test the mettle of the world’s top cyclists. We sat down with cycling analyst and former professional rider, Erik Janssen, to discuss the key themes and contenders ahead of this exciting event.
The Benidorm Circuit: A Unique Challenge
Senior Editor: Erik, the Benidorm circuit is known for its unique characteristics. how does it compare to the World Championships route in liévin?
Erik Janssen: The Benidorm circuit is quite different from Liévin. While Liévin features long staircases and footbridges that force riders to shoulder their bikes, Benidorm offers a more technical and rolling terrain. The Spanish course is less about carrying your bike and more about handling skills and power. Weather conditions also play a significant role here. Forecasts predict sunny weather with temperatures around ten degrees, which could create almost spring-like conditions. Though, the terrain’s nature—whether frozen, muddy, or thawed—will ultimately shape the race.
Marie Schreiber’s Comeback
Senior Editor: Marie Schreiber has had a remarkable comeback this season. Can you tell us more about her journey and what we can expect from her in Benidorm?
Erik Janssen: Marie Schreiber, the national champion from Luxembourg, has had an impressive season despite a rocky start.She’s currently fourth in the general classification and second in the hopes category behind Zoe Bäckstedt. schreiber dominated the Dutch round in Hulst and has made the general classification a key goal this season. After a tough start to the year, marked by illness and subpar performances in Besançon and Dendermonde, she’s bounced back strongly. She recently secured her third national title and has been training in Spain with her SD Worx-Protime team. I expect her to be a strong contender in Benidorm.
Fem Van Empel and Lucinda Brand: The Elite Contenders
Senior editor: Fem van Empel and Lucinda Brand are two of the top names in the elite women’s category. How do you see their rivalry playing out in Benidorm?
Erik Janssen: Fem van Empel, the reigning elite world champion, won in benidorm last year and claimed her second consecutive title in Tabor. Though, recent performances have shown her to be slightly less dominant compared to Lucinda Brand, who has been in remarkable form. Both riders have been training in Spain for over two weeks, highlighting the importance of this planning phase ahead of the World Championships. It’s going to be a fascinating battle between these two, and Benidorm will be a crucial test of their form.
Wout van Aert’s Road Ahead
Senior Editor: Among the men, Wout van Aert is a standout name. What’s his strategy leading up to the World Championships?
Erik Janssen: Wout van Aert is in great shape and has been performing exceptionally well, with recent wins at Gullegem and Dendermonde.He’ll compete in Benidorm and Maasmechelen before shifting his focus back to road cycling.Interestingly, he won’t participate in the World Championships in Liévin, unlike Mathieu Van der Poel, who will skip Benidorm but compete in Hoogerheide and Liévin. For van Aert, these races are about fine-tuning his form and building momentum for the road season.
What to Watch This Sunday
Senior Editor: What should fans keep an eye on during this Sunday’s race in Benidorm?
Erik Janssen: This round in Benidorm is more than just a race—it’s a litmus test for the World Championships. While the dry result may not be definitive, it will offer valuable insights into the form of key contenders like Van Empel and Schreiber. Fans should watch the elite women’s battle between Van Empel and Brand, as well as Marie Schreiber’s performance in the hopes category. On the men’s side, wout van aert’s dominance will be a key highlight. it’s going to be a thrilling preview of the battles to come at the World Championships.
Looking Ahead
Senior editor: After Benidorm, what’s next for the riders as they prepare for the World Championships?
Erik Janssen: After Benidorm, the World Cup will move to Maasmechelen and Hoogerheide, serving as the final tune-ups before the World Championships in Liévin. For riders like Schreiber and Van Empel, these races are crucial for fine-tuning their strategies and building momentum. the cycling world is turning its attention to Benidorm, and this Sunday’s race will be a thrilling preview of what’s to come in Liévin.
Senior Editor: thank you, Erik, for your insights. We’re looking forward to an exciting race in Benidorm this Sunday!