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Although Kerstperiode only just wrapped up, most of the world’s best cyclocrossers are already shifting focus to their National Championships. There are no less than 18 national championships held on the weekend of January 11th and 12th. Per the UCI, this is national championships weekend, so the only exceptions are the “cold countries” (North America and Scandinavia) and those in the Southern Hemisphere (Australia and South America).
As a cyclocross fan, there’s lots of racing to look forward to, so much it’s hard to keep track! In an effort to help, and to highlight the competitors on Challenge tires (names bolded), we have compiled the below overview.
Of note, the countries are presented in the order of men’s country world ranking, according to the UCI. Each heading includes country, location, and date. In some cases, competition occurs over two days; in this case, the first day’s date is listed.
Belgium - Zolder - January 11
Belgium’s National Championships take place at the Zolder racetrack. Traditionally, the Zolder race is slotted over Kerstperiode, but it was off the calendar this December per being Nationals. The track (both the parcours and the racetrack) is notoriously fast. The sandy soil drains water well, so even in rain it remains rather firm. The Zolder parcours is conducive to bunch racing.
European Champion Thibau Nys (Baloise Glowi Lions) is one of many athletes contending for the win. While Nys’ last win was Lokeren in November, his Kerstperiode was strong. Nys was second in Zonhoven, third in Gavere, second in Loenhout, and third in Diegem. Beyond his cyclocross palmares, he has a fearsome road sprint, which could come in handy given Zolders high speeds and racetrack finish.
It should perhaps be noted that Wout van Aert is not participating in Nationals.
The elite women’s race is without a single clear favorite. 15-time National Champion Sanne Cant, who retires at the end of the season, will not be competing. In a nod to the import of the Belgian “driekleur” [tricolour] jersey, Cant will skip the championships. This ensures the driekleur will be worn in competition next season.
Look for Alicia Frank (De Ceuster-Bouwpunt) to be in the mix. She consistently finishes among the top-3 Belgian women and her sixth place at this year’s Europeans was “first-Belgian.”
For the U23 men, Jente Michels (Alpecin-Deceuninck) is capable of riding his Challenge tires to a Zolder win. The U23 European Champion, Michels, is currently sitting in 2nd for the U23 World Cup overall after winning Dublin and taking second in Hulst and Zonhoven.
Xaydee Van Sinaey is a contender to the women’s U23 title. This 19-year old Crelin-Corendon rider notched her first-ever elite UCI win over Kerstperiode in Pétange, Luxembourg on the first of the year. Van Sinaey made her elite level debut in Belgium in 2022 as a 16-year old first year junior. She has been quietly gaining invaluable elite experience ever since.
For U19 men, second-year junior Arthur Van den Boer is the definitive favorite. He has won no less than six junior races in Belgium thus far this season. At last year’s Zolder, he finished third and “first-Belgian,” establishing that the track is good for him.
Netherlands - Oisterwijk - January 12
Netherlands Nationals are in Oisterwijk. Oisterwijk is a traditional host of an October C2 race, so it’s a venue with which the riders are well-acquainted.
World Champion Mathieu van der Poel is not slated to race.
After a slow build into the season due to spring/summer illness, Pim Ronhaar’s form continues to trend upward. He is currently sitting in fourth in the UCI World Cup standings and closed out Kerstperiode with a second in Baal and a sixth in Dendermonde. He will look to better his silver medal at last year’s championships.
On the women’s side, unfortunately, Annemarie Worst will have to sit out the championships due to a broken hand suffered in a crash at Zonhoven. We are happy to report that, following a successful surgery, she is already back to riding indoors. She says that she still has goals for this season!
For the U23 men, Challenge riders David Haverdings and Danny Van Lierop both look to be in the mix. Haverdings (Baloise Glowi Lions) podiumed at the Dublin and Hulst World Cups and proved his current form with a U23 fourth in Koksijde. Van Lierop has two World Cup top-10s and was sixth in Koksijde.
Despite being a first-year junior and only 16 years old, Cas Timmermans is the clear favorite in the U19 race. He is currently fourth in the World Cup U19 rankings and is consistently the first Dutch finisher.
France - Pontchâteau - January 12
The French National Championships are held over two days, November 11 and 12 in Pontchâteau. Pontchâteau is a storied venue, having hosted World Championships, World Cups, Europeans, and Nationals. The venue is on a mild sidehill, making for long gradual descents and climbs.
In the men’s race, look for AS Bike Racing’s David Menut, who has been a fixture on the French scene since taking the U19 win in 2010. He’s won four French Cup races this season, and has four World Cup top-20s, including 10th in Hulst.
AS Bike Racing’s Celia Gery will race in the Women’s Elite as a U23. The 2024 U19 World Champion, Gery has found immediate success in the U23 and elite ranks. She is European Champion (U23) and recently raced to 10th among the elites in the Besançon World Cup.
For the U23s, AS Bike Racing brings defending national champion Nathan Bommenel, as well as last year's U19 runner-up Jules Simon. They are ranked eighth and 14th, respectively, in the U23 World Cup.
Great Britain - Gravesend - January 12
In Great Britain, both of the defending champions, Cameron Mason and Anna Kay, ride on Challenge tires. Mason (Seven Racing) had a very solid Kerstperiode, scoring top-10s in Dendermonde, Gullegem, Baal, and Gavere. His fifth in Hulst was a World Cup career best. Kay has had a more challenging season. Her build into the season was impacted by illness, but her trajectory has been consistently upward. She wrapped up Kerstperiode with three top-10s (Loenhout, Diegem, and Baal).
Moviestar’s Cat Ferguson got a late start to the cyclocross season as she is prioritizing her road racing career. She’s had but three UCI starts this season (Heretals, Namur, and Hulst). Unfortunately, she crashed in Hulst and was forced to miss the remainder of Kerstperiode. Her 2024 palmares, including U19 runner-up at Worlds and several U19 World Cup wins suggest she can battle for the title if she can recover in time.
For the U19 men, Oscar Amey is a likely winner, as well as a name to watch for the future. He is the defending junior national champion and has experienced consistent success abroad this season. Podiums at Besançon and Loenhout, as well as a fourth place in Diegem, suggest his form is ideal leading up to Nationals.
The British Championships take place at the Cyclopark in Gravesend, southeast of London. The facility has a road circuit, a BMX track, and mountain bike/cyclocross trails and features.
Czech Republic - Jičín - January 11
Jičín, in Northern Czech Republic, is the host to this year’s national championships. Jičín is a traditional stop on the HSF System Cup (formerly Toi Toi) calendar. With a trace of snow on the ground at the moment, as well as temperatures forecasted around the freezing point, the conditions promise to be challenging.
In the women elite, look for defending National Champion Kristyna Zemanová (Brilon Racing Team MB), who is actually only 21 and thus technically U23. Her most notable palmare is second in last year’s U23 World Championships. This year, she has won five of the HSF System Cup races. While last year, she followed the entire World Cup circuit, this season, she made but two trips abroad (European Champs and Zonhoven), which should leave her fresher.
Vaclav Jezek is a 19-year old rider who is poised to put in a strong performance among the elite men. Last year, he was fifth and second among the U23s. This year, he has earned four podiums in the HSF System Cup and raced the full schedule of World Cups.
Among the U19s, a name to note is Tomás Hájek. The 17-year old has recorded three wins and three podiums in U19 races in the Czech Republic. He traveled abroad for Kerstperiode, finishing 11th in Diegem as a highlight. At last year’s championships, he finished fourth among U19s. Two of the riders in front of him have aged out of the category.
Italy - Fae' di Oderzo - January 12
As an Italian company, it’s no surprise that Challenge is poised to make a big impact at Italian Nationals. The event is held in Fae' di Oderzo, a storied Italian cyclocross venue and host of UCI racing since 2006.
For men elite, look for Antonio Folcarelli. Fifth at last year’s Nationals, Folcarelli has raced mostly in Italy this year, earning one podium and five top-fives. In the U23 men, Samuele Scappini makes his debut in the category after winning U19 last year. Though only 19, he scored five top-fives among the elite men in Italy this season. Another young rider quickly rising through the ranks is Filippo Grigolini, a first-year U19. In Italy, he scored four U19 podiums and one win. Racing abroad for the first-time this season, he notched two World Cup U19 11th places in Hulst and Zonhoven.
Francesca Baroni (Proximus - Cyclis - AlphaMotorhomes CT) will return to Italy for Nationals in Women Elite. She’s taken a bit of an unconventional path, spending the last three winters living in Belgium and competing on Belgian teams. Over Kerstperiode, she was 11th in Koksijde and Baal, proving her current form is solid. U23 rider Carlotta Borello is a rider on the rise. Just 22, she has earned six wins and two podiums in Italy this season. Over Kerstperiode, she was 18th among elites in Namur, a career best aboard.
Poland - Wladyslawowo - January 12
Polish Nationals will be held in Wladyslawowo, a city on the coast of the Baltic Sea. In the best of both worlds, the course is likely to be greasy mud within a park, but also features a long sand run on a Baltic beach. Defending National Champion Zuzanna Krzystala seems well poised to repeat. This year, she won all four Polish C2 races and podiumed in Slovakia, Czech Republic, and SpainHungary - Kazincbarcika - January 12
Hungarian Nationals are in Kazincbarcika, a city that is new to UCI cyclocross, but a long-time host of the event “Kolorcross.” Kazincbarcika is in northeast Hungary and weekend temps are forecasted to hover right around freezing. Barnabás Vas will be targeting the U23 win. He won both the C2s held in Debrecen (Hungary) in November and has been posting strong results abroad. U23 Highlights include 11th at Koksijde, 16th in Hulst, and 17th in Zonhoven.
Denmark - Holbæk - January 12
Holbæk, Denmark is host to Denmark Nationals. Holbæk is in Northeastern Denmark on the banks of the Holbæk Fjord. In the U19s, look for Mille Foldager Nielsen, a second-year U19. This season, she earned an elite podium in a Danish C2 and took four wins among the U19s in Sweden. She also traveled abroad for her first Kerstperiode. She earned 18th and 19th among the elites in Diegem and Baal, respectively.
We wish all riders best of luck this upcoming weekend!
