Preview: Cyclocross Otegem 2024 – Who will win a second chance for the Belgian Championship?

The day after the BC, the cyclo-cross caravan will travel to Otegem in West Flanders, a sub-municipality of Zwevegem, for the Betafence Cyclocross. Who will seize power in the national title match-up match? CyclingFlits looks ahead.

History

Latest winners Otegem
Men
2023: Laurens Sweeck
2022: Not organized, due to the corona crisis
2021: Not organized, due to the corona crisis
2020: Mathieu van der Poel
2019: Mathieu van der Poel
2018: Mathieu van der Poel
2017: Mathieu van der Poel
2016: Mathieu van der Poel
2015: Kevin Pauwels
2014: Wout van Aert

Women
2023: Marion Norbert-Riberolle
2022: Not organized, due to the corona crisis
2021: Not organized, due to the corona crisis
2020: Alicia Franck
2019: Denise Betsema
2018: True Cant
2017: Christine Majerus
2016: Jolien Verschueren
2015: True Cant
2014: Helen Wyman
2013: Marianne Vos

Previous edition

Cyclocross Next time 2023
Results, elite men
Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Fristads)
Joran Wyseure (Crelan-Fristads) at 16s
Gerben Kuypers (Proximus-Alphamotorhomes-Doltcini) in 30s
4. Jente Michels (Alpecin-Deceuninck) at 48s
5. Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick-Step) op 1m10s

Cyclocross Next time 2023
Results, elite women
Marion Norbert-Riberolle (Crelan-Fristads)
Aniek van Alphen (777) at 12s
Denise Betsema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) on 1m14s
4. Leonie Bentveld (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) at 2m43s
5. Austin Killips (Nice Bikes) op 3m00s

Course

“If I had to describe our course in one word, I would call it a ‘stoemperscross’,” organizer Benny Lavaert tells us. “In Otegem the riders know that they will see a lot of mud, in flat meadows that are often not easy to get to.” Given the heavy rainfall, this is no different now.

Fortunately, there are still plenty of obstacles that break the rhythm. “We have added some show elements since last year. Of course there were all our traditional bridges and small mountains, but we still wanted some more diversity in the course. So we built a sandbox ourselves and added some washboards. The spectators appreciate that.”

Also typical for Otegem: the very long asphalt strip towards the arrival. Of the 2650 meters of the circuit, the riders have to ride almost a kilometer on paved strips. There, crooked situations can sometimes be corrected, while the real differences are made in the meadows.

Program and information

Program Monday January 15, 2023
12.30pm: G-Cyclocross
1.45pm: Elite women and youth categories
3 p.m.: Elite men and promises

Location
Heestertstraat, Otegem

Public information
Tickets can be purchased on site for 12 euros each. Children up to 12 years old can enter for free.

Practical info
Website organization

Favorites men

The Otegem cross is usually one of the most difficult races of the year to predict. Simply because the interests of the riders are largely only determined the day before in the Belgian Championship. Riders who have a bad day in Meulebeke or are beaten will be happy to ride their hearts out in Otegem to make the rematch their own. While the new champion often lacks some motivation and freshness after a short night.

What is certain: That is, Iserbyt is almost never unmotivated. He is – for the time being – one of the two top favorites for the Belgian championship who will also start in Otegem. Iserbyt fell ill during the Christmas period and subsequently missed several crosses, but a dress rehearsal in Zonhoven taught him that he can safely hope for the title. And if Iserbyt can compete for a national title, then victory in Otegem might also be possible.

Laurens Sweeck is the defending champion in Otegem. Although his victory last year was also quite much discussed. The day before, Sweeck only had to give up on Michael Vanthourenhout in the final round at the Belgian Championships, but afterwards the game was on the cards when Sweeck claimed that Vanthourenhout’s mechanics had interfered. In Otegem, Vanthourenhout was again forced – unintentionally – into the equipment post by Sweeck. “Sukkelaar,” said the Belgian champion afterwards. “Was there no bicycle ready for Michael? Then they made a mistake again, the mechanics,” Sweeck then added HLN. We hope for less rivalry this time.

Michael Vanthourenhout, like Thibau Nys, is not yet on the starting grid. The two big contenders of the Belgian Championship for promises do. Emiel Verstrynge, perhaps the biggest contender among the U23 riders, is participating in Otegem. Just like European champion Girl Michels. The two regularly appeared in the top 10 among the pros during the past Christmas period, so you can expect them close to the podium here too.

You can say the same about Joran Wyseure. A rider who really loves flat meadow crosses like this, and who is also a full-time professional. Wyseure took a gigantic step this winter and was even on a World Cup podium in Val di Sole. Furthermore, Dutch people are also allowed Ryan Kamp, Lander Loockx and Thijs Aerts hope for a nice place of honor.

Favorites according to WielerFlits
*** That is, Iserbyt
** Laurens Sweeck, Joran Wyseure
* Emiel Verstrynge, Jente Michels, Ryan Kamp

Favorites women

The organization cannot yet provide us with the provisional starting list for the women. The preview will be supplemented as soon as we receive the list of participants.

Favorites according to WielerFlits
***
**
*

Weather and TV

Finally no rainy edition of the cross in Otegem. At least, if we do Meteorologist may believe. It will remain dry in Otegem on Monday, but temperatures will not exceed 3 degrees Celsius. The wind blows from the northwest, which can create an even colder feeling.

The West Flemish channel Focus-WTV normally – just like last year – with a live stream of the men and women elites.