Defending champion Lars van der Haar and World Cup leader Femme van Empel are the favorites to win the elite men's and women's races, respectively, in the UEC European Cyclocross Championships, which kick off Saturday in the medieval fortress city of Namur.

Van der Haar came from behind to take a convincing win in the Koppenberg Cross on Monday, showing his form and climbing ability. Her main rivals were the duo of Eli Iserbitt and Michael Vanhollenhout (Pauwels Sausen Bingor), as well as Quinten Hermans (Tolman's Circus CX).

The women will compete in the title race without defending champion Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions), who is recovering from a broken hand.

Van Empel (Pauwels Sausen Bingoel) has been dominant in the elite races this season, winning eight races, including four consecutive World Cup titles. However, the 20-year-old will compete in the under-23 competition on Sunday. Dutch riders Van Empel, Shirin Van Amrooy, and Puck Petersen have already shown their rivalry in the elite races this season.

New Ineos Grenadiers rider Pauline Ferran-Prevot is one to watch as she looks to build on a great season that has seen her win world titles in MTB cross country, short track, marathon, and gravel. Her results at the Koppenberg Cross were disastrous due to multiple mechanical problems.

However, the Dutch rider has been dominant for several seasons and Saturday is expected to be no different. Denise Betsema is the top climber and was second in the Koppencross. Marianne Vos, for whom Saturday's race will be her third of the season, is by no means a shoo-in for the world championship title.

The only other Dutch rider who could break the blockade is Blanka Kata Vas (Hungary). She has five wins so far this season.

Racing begins on Saturday with the junior women and under-23 men before the elite women's race. Sunday begins with the junior men's race, followed by the under-23 women's and elite men's races.

A total of 331 riders from 21 countries are registered. The Cyclocross European Championships is the last event of the UEC season and one of the first major international competitions in this fascinating discipline. [Europe has always been considered the birthplace of cyclo-cross, and in a few days' time we will see yet another great event with the best women's and men's specialists that we will be hearing about in the coming months and years in the fascinating and unique setting of the Namur Citadel. We will be seeing another great event featuring the best female and male specialists that we will be hearing about for months and years to come. The great media interest this championship has generated shows that we are expecting a high-level event that will be the pinnacle of the season.

"I would like to thank the Belgian Cycling Federation and its president, Tom van Dam, for their constant interest and support for our event. I would also like to thank the organizers of Golasso Cycling, the City of Namur and Mayor Maxime Prévot, Charlotte Bazelaire, the Sports Delegate, the Walloon Provincial Government, and all the volunteers who have continuously supported and given their expertise and passion to make this a most successful event.