Niels Bastiaens • Friday October 20, 2023 at 7:40 PM
Of Mother of all crosses moves back to the Telenet Superprestige this season after three years of the World Cup. For the first time since 2000, the Grape Cross is again part of the oldest regularity criterion in the country. Given the heavy rainfall in recent days, we expect a lot of slipping and sliding in the mud of Overijse. Who will join the impressive list of honors? CyclingFlits looks ahead!
History
Last ten winners in Overijse
Men
2022: Michael Vanthourenhout
2021: Eli Iserbyt
2020: Wout van Aert
2019: Mathieu van der Poel
2018: Toon Aerts
2017: Mathieu van der Poel
2016: Mathieu van der Poel
2015: Mathieu van der Poel
2014: Tom Meeusen
2013: Sven Nys
Women
2022: Puck Pieterse
2021: Blanka Kata Vas
2020: Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
2019: Annemarie Worst
2018: Lucinda Brand
2017: Pauline Ferrand-Prévot
2016: Sophie de Boer
2015: Jolien Verschueren
2014: True Cant
2013: Katherine Compton
Last year
Result men – World Cup in Overijse
1. Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauces-Bingoal)
2. Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers) op 3s
3. Lars van der Haar (Baloise Trek Lions) at 37s
4. Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Fristads) at 1m09s
5. Joris Nieuwenhuis (Baloise Trek Lions) at 1m30s
Women’s results – World Cup in Overijse
1. Puck Pieterse (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
2. Fem van Empel (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) at 1m03s
3. Shirin van Anrooij (Baloise Trek Lions) at 1m36s
4. Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) at 1m51s
5. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Deceuninck) at 1m56s
Course
The course in Overijse provides a spectacle every year. It is one of the most difficult and varied courses in the cyclo-cross circuit. The course has been thoroughly modified in recent years, but this time the adjustments are more limited.
If you look at the route map, you will notice that the finish has been moved slightly compared to last year. “The riders now enter the main track from further away, so that the start-finish line is longer than last year. When the riders leave the park, they take an extra detour along the Emile Carelsstraat towards the finish on the Terhulpensesteenweg,” says course designer Kurt Vernimmen.
The first meters in the field have also been slightly adjusted. For example, we no longer see a staircase in the first passage to the forest. “Then it goes down in the same line towards the material station. After the post, the first passage through the forest follows, which will now be divided into two stages. We have separated the course a little further there to provide a better flow for the public.”
But of course the biggest adjustment came last year, when the asphalted Tenotsberg was surprisingly removed from the course. “We were very satisfied with that. On the previous arrival we were somewhat limited in space, while now we are much better seated. And what is also nice: the climbs now take place more in the meadows.”
Given the heavy rain, it will be a slip and slide event again on Sunday. “If it rains a little, the course always becomes a bit slippery. That is typical of Overijse. It has rained a bit in recent days and it will continue to do so in the coming days,” concludes Vernimmen. In short: we will see a spectacular cross.
Program and information
Program Sunday October 21, 2023
12:00: Junior men
1.40 pm: Elite women and U23
3.10 pm: Elite men and U23
Location
Terhulpensesteenweg, 3090 Overijse
Public information
You can obtain tickets in advance online via this link for 14.5 euros. The tickets are 2.5 euros more expensive at the box office on the day itself. Children under 12 years old can enter for free.
Practical info
Website Telenet Superprestige
Website Druivencross
Favorites men
The first World Cup Cross of the season has made us a little wiser about the value ratios, but actually not completely. In Overijse it is a completely different story, with long climbs and a good portion of mud. A cross for power, and in this respect young talents usually do a little less well than experienced crossers. That also applies to Thibau Nys, who did excellently in the technical crosses of Beringen and Waterloo? Or can he also handle a course like Overijse?
Will we soon see a cheering Iserbyt again? – photo: Cor Vos
That is, Iserbyt had a hard time in the first two races of the season. The West Flemish had the fitness to compete, but something went wrong in terms of equipment. In Beringen he had to deal with equipment failure, and in Waterloo there were problems with his cleat, which meant that Iserbyt was unable to complete a single cross without damage. Take into account that Overijse is a course that suits him like a glove, and we have the top favorite for the Druivenkoers.
Michael Vanthourenhout is the defending champion here. The European champion is perhaps one of the best climbers in the cyclo-cross peloton, so he can enjoy himself every year in Overijse. During the previous edition he did the impossible by keeping top favorite Tom Pidcock from winning after an exciting duel. This time he will mainly have to compete against fellow countrymen, but that does not mean that it will be easy to repeat his trick.
The Baloise Trek Lions block in particular is in good shape. Next to Nys, also explained Pim Ronhaar a sky-high level on the grounds of sponsor Trek in Waterloo. And then we have Joris Nieuwenhuis and Lars van der Haar not yet mentioned. However, team play will not be of much use to them in Overijse, because the course is simply too difficult for that. Further will also Gerben Kuypers and climber Toon Vandebosch are involved.
Does Pim Ronhaar continue the strong line? – photo: Cor Vos
Favorites according to WielerFlits
*** That is, Iserbyt
** Thibau Nys, Michael Vanthourenhout
* Pim Ronhaar, Gerben Kuypers, Lars van der Haar
Favorites women
Anyone who has seen the first crosses of Beringen and Waterloo can already sense the feeling: world champion Fem van Empel has a scorching set of legs, with which she can – if she wants – drive the competition within minutes. We fear that the balance of power on a course like Overijse will be highlighted even more. Especially because attackers Puck Pieterse and Shirin van Anrooij are taking a rest.
Who does Fem van Empel and what? – photo: Cor Vos
Van Empel’s dominance is especially unfortunate Ceylin del Carmen Alvaradowhich reaches both Beringen and Waterloo the best of the rest belonged. She always crossed the line a full minute after Van Empel, but given the great dominance of a super champion in the making, Alvarado should not be dissatisfied. One day the penny will drop for her, perhaps already on the difficult course of Overijse?
Annemarie Worst, Denise Betsema in Aniek van Alphen prepared themselves in an alternative way. The trio did not make the tiring trip to the other side of the pond, but were seen in Oisterwijk last weekend. On the other days, Betsema and Worst could work on their training backlog. Far behind the now injured Blanka Vas, Van Alphen and Betsema fought a nice battle for silver, which should give confidence for what comes next.
Inge van der Heijden indicated that the American trip did not go well for her, because the jet lag had a major impact on her. Hopefully she will be back to normal in Overijse. Furthermore, Marie Schreiber will also want to show herself, just like the competing Sanne Cant and victorious queen Laura Verdonschot.
Denise Betsema opted for an alternative preparation – photo: Cor Vos
Favorites according to WielerFlits
*** Fem van Empel
** Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, Annemarie Worst
* Denise Betsema, Inge van der Heijden, Aniek van Alphen
Weather and TV
Although there will be a lot of precipitation from the sky all week, it promises to remain reasonably dry in Overijse on Sunday. The course will still be quite wet, but no rain on the race day itself is always nice. Temperatures will not exceed 13 degrees Celsius, according to Weatheronlineand the wind is blowing quite fiercely up to five Beaufort.
Dutch viewers do not have to miss any of the spectacle of the men’s and women’s elite on Sunday and can watch from 1:30 p.m. Eurosport 1 or the online channels Eurosport.nl/Discovery+/GCN+. In Belgium the rights lie with you Telenet Play Sports in Next Pickxwho pick up on their open channels from 1:15 p.m.
2023-10-20 17:40:00
#Preview #Superprestige #Overijse #Spectacle #Mother #Crosses
