The Dutch Cycling Federation (KNWU) has named its national team for the UCI Cyclocross World Championships to be held in Oostende, Belgium, on January 30 and 31. According to national team coach Gerben de Knegt, this talented team has the potential to win all four titles.

"We have a chance to win the world title in all four races, but of course we do not assume in advance that we will win every race," de Knegt said in a press release.

Defending champion Mathieu van der Poel and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (both Alpecin Phoenix) will lead the team in the elite races, while Ryan Camp will defend his U23 title. There will be no junior race this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.

"The World Championships are always a special race, where some riders can really outdo themselves. The elite women have the greatest chance of success. In addition to Alvarado, the Dutch team includes World Cup series winner Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek) and seven-time world champion Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma).

The Netherlands is also competing in the U23 women's category, and Manon Bakker, ranked ninth in the elite world rankings, revealed on Sunday that she will be aiming for the world title in the U23 race.

Van der Pol will feature his brother David in the elite men's race in addition to Lars van der Haar, Kone van Kessel, and Joris Nieuwenhuys (Team DSM).

De Knegt sees the biggest threat in the men's race as Belgian Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), who took the overall World Cup title and victory in Ouvélaise on Sunday. [Defending elite men's champion Mathieu van der Pol will face stiff resistance from his Belgian challenger, Wout van Aert. Preparation for this World Championship is different from previous years, for example, there are fewer joint practices with the U23 athletes. Nevertheless, we know that everyone is ready and we hope that the World Championships will take place as planned."

The last doubt is that a new strain of coronavirus, B117, first detected in the UK, has landed in Oostende. This variant is believed to be 50% more infectious than the original virus.

Rik Debeaussaert, chairman of the organizing committee, told Het Nieuwsblad, "We are taking very strict measures and everything is organized according to the rules for COVID-19. All players, entourage, journalists, employees, etc., are subjected to PCR testing.

"We have put a lot of effort into this. Despite not being allowed to host spectators and VIPs, we wanted to continue for the love of the sport, and it would be a shame to see four years of hard work go to waste."

Elite Men

Mathieu van der Pol Lars van der Haar Kone van Kessel Joris Nieuwenhuys David van der Pol

Elite Women's

Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado Annemarie Werst Lucinda Brand Denise Betsema Yara Castellane Marianne Voss Sophie de Boer Anne Tauber

U23 Women

Manon Bakker Puck Peterse Inge van der Heijden Anique van Alphen Femme van Empel Shirin van Ambrooy Susanne Maistrock

U23 Men

Ryan Kamp Pim Longhaar Mies Hendriks Tim van Dijk Kyle Agterberg Luke Fellburg

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