Joris Nieuwenhuis has announced his schedule for the upcoming, very busy cyclocross weeks. The Dutch rider will compete in five more World Cups, two Superprestige races, and two events for the X2O Badkamers Trophy in 2025.
In the coming weeks, Nieuwenhuis will often face off against Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. This Sunday marks the first showdown with MVDP in the Namur World Cup. He will also encounter the world champion in Antwerp (12/20), Koksijde (12/21), Hofstade (12/22), Gavere (12/26), and Loenhout (12/29).
In Antwerp, Hofstade, and Loenhout, Nieuwenhuis will not only have to compete against Van der Poel but also against the other cyclocross star who is just now returning to the circuit: Wout van Aert. And the encounters with the Belgian won’t be limited to these three races, as Van Aert will also appear in the cyclocross events at Heusden-Zolder and Dendermonde. Van der Poel will not participate in those races.
There is only one cyclocross race during the Christmas period where Nieuwenhuis doesn’t have to worry about Van der Poel and/or Van Aert. That’s the evening race in Diegem on Tuesday, December 30. For the second year in a row, the Superprestige race will take place without the two main crowd pullers.
In the new year, Nieuwenhuis will likely face Van der Poel and Van Aert again. Van der Poel’s calendar includes the races in Baal, Mol, Zonhoven, Benidorm (pending confirmation), Maasmechelen, and Hoogerheide as preparation for the World Championships. Van Aert will stick to the sand races in Mol and Zonhoven, as well as the Belgian Championships, although a World Championship participation is not entirely ruled out.
