While many of the European cyclocross national championship titles will be decided over the weekend, the elite women's and men's races in both the Netherlands and Belgium are expected to be particularly fierce thanks to the depth of talent in both countries.

In the Belgian men's race, Eli Iserbyt and Laurens Sweek of Pauwels-Sausen-Bingoer are considered the favorites to win, but after a major crash in the individual time trial on stage 13 of the Tour de France and a recent return to this discipline and to racing Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma), who recently returned to the discipline and to racing after a serious crash in the individual time trial on stage 13 of the Tour de France, will take a sentimental victory.

Defending champion Toon Aerts (Telenet Baloise Lions) will also probably have a bit too much to recover from as he continues to recover from a back injury sustained in a crash during the sixth round of the World Cup in Namur, Belgium, about three weeks ago. There are.

It could be any of the winners, but now two-time world champion and retiree Sven Nys has previewed the course in Antwerp.

"Before I saw the course, I would have said Sweek was the leading contender. But now I know that there are a number of sections that Yzerbit in particular would have enjoyed."

"It will be a tough course. It's a course for riders with big engines, so you have to take into account the Arts and VanArts as well."

In 2019, current women's world champion Sanne Canto (IKO-Crelan) won back-to-back Belgian titles for the 10th time in her career and will want to show that kind of form again before her world title defense in early February in Dubendorf, Switzerland. 23-year-old Laura Verdonschot (Pauwels Sausen Bingoel) is even stronger, while five-time silver medalist Ellen Van Roy (Telenet Baloise Lions) will also be looking to move up a step on the podium.

Dutch champion and world champion Mathieu van der Pol (Alpecin Phoenix) will be on the start line in Lucfen on Sunday.

But if the 24-year-old Mathieu stalls, Lars van der Haar (Telenet Baloise Lions), Korne van Kessel (Trumans CX Team), or Mathieu's brother and Alpecin teammate David van der Pol would line up behind him to challenge him.

In the women's competition, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin Phoenix) has to start as the favorite, given her recent form, while 2019 champion Lucinda Brand (Telenet Baloise Lions) will look to defend her title, She will be looking to give this youngster a shot.

Marianne Vos, the seven-time CCC-Liv 'cross world champion and six-time national champion, is very dangerous as she continues her preparations for the World Championships in Switzerland before the start of the road season.

Great Britain, Germany, and the Czech Republic will also decide their national titles over the weekend, while AG2R La Mondiale's Clément Venturini is ready to defend his French elite men's title, which he also won in 2017, in Flamanville on the Normandy coast on Sunday

"I'm no longer in a position to defend my title.

"Even though I no longer participate in all seasons of cyclocross, I am very attached to the French champion jersey," the 2011 junior men's cyclocross world champion said on the team website.

"For the second time in my career, I will be at the start to defend my title. So far, preparations are going well," said the 26-year-old Venturini, who moved from Cofidis to AG2R in 2018, "I know how difficult one-day races are because you never know what will happen during the one-hour competition.

"The French championships will also be a test for the road season, which starts three weeks later with the Grand Prix de la Marseillaise (February 2) to Etoile de Besseges (February 6-9).