The KNWU has announced its selections for the World Cup races in Antwerp and Koksijde, and a few things stand out. Naturally, Mathieu van der Poel and national champions Puck Pieterse and Tibor Del Grosso will be back on Saturday and Sunday.
World champion Fem van Empel is still absent. Inquiries last week revealed that there is 'no news yet,' according to a spokesperson for her team Visma | Lease a Bike. After a week off, Shirin van Anrooij returns to the women's selection.
On the men's side, the selection for Koksijde is somewhat more limited than for the race in Antwerp. Despite initially announcing he would race almost every event during the Christmas period, Joris Nieuwenhuis is the most notable absentee in the sandy terrain of Koksijde.
It will definitely be a weekend decided by the sand sections. "Many riders are really looking forward to these races," looks ahead head coach Gerben de Knegt. "And for the fans, it’s fantastic that Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert will line up on Saturday in Antwerp. Van der Poel’s comeback in Namur certainly inspires confidence for the series of races ahead."
