The Dutch Cycling Federation (KNWU) announced that defending elite men's champion Mathieu van der Pol will lead a 31-man team for the UCI Cyclocross World Championships in Dubendorf. One rider stood out from the crowd: Denise Betsema, who had just returned from a doping ban, took second place in Sonnebeke's Castillecross.

Betsema had won the 2018 Koksijde World Cup and ranked third in the world with nine other wins. She tested positive for anabolic steroids last year at the Hogelheide World Cup on January 27, 2019, and at the Superprestige in Middelkerke on February 16, 2019.

Her case lasted until last week, when the UCI announced that she had received a six-month ban and was allowed to race soon after claiming that the positive was the result of cross-contamination of supplements at a pharmacy.

Dutch elite rider Geerthe Hoekke, the top-ranked rider on the team behind Marianne Foss, who is out with a groin injury.

Betsema told AD.nl that she respects the decision. She said, "The Dutch girls have proven their ability throughout the season."

National team selection committee member Gerben de Knegt said that the team will include overall World Cup champion Annemarie Werst, top World Cup U23 Seylin Carmen del Alvarado, Lucinda Brand, winner of Sunday's Hogelheid, European Champion Yara Castellaine, and Hoekke, the top four Dutch riders in the UCI ranking.

The elite riders will support Van der Pol, who is seeking his third consecutive world title on February 2 in Dubendorf.

"Today Mathieu confirms his status at the World Cup in Vogelheide and it is not surprising that he wants to extend his world title," de Negt said in a federation announcement.

Van der Pol joins Lars van der Haar, Kone van Kessel, Joris Nieuwenhuys, his brother David van der Pol, Sieben Wouters, and Stan Godley.

"In the women's competition there are four world title contenders, so it should be an exciting battle, while in the U23 men's competition Ryan Kamp proved he is in good form with his second World Cup win.

The Dutch women are also expected to compete for the rainbow jersey in the U23 girls and junior girls. Inge van der Heijden is well on her way to renewing her world title. Junior girls Shirin van Ambrooy and Puck Petersen are also favourites to win the title.

"In the junior men, Tibor Del Grosso has a very good chance of a podium finish. In short, we are in every category for the podium."

"We have a lot of competition in the junior men's category, and we are looking for a podium finish in the junior men's category.

Elite Men

Elite Women

U23 Men

U23 Women

Junior Men

Junior Women