Michael Vanthourenhout starts with doubts ahead of world championship clash in Hulst

Michael Vanthourenhout is usually a rider to watch at a championship, but the Belgian had a far from flawless lead-up to the Cyclocross World Championships in Hulst due to illness. He therefore starts with plenty of question marks.

Vanthourenhout was struck by illness two days before the World Cup race in Benidorm. Due to a respiratory infection, he had to skip the last three races (Benidorm, Maasmechelen, and Hoogerheide).

"I started feeling better the Tuesday after Benidorm and was able to train again, but on Friday—just before the weekend with Maasmechelen and Hoogerheide—it was back to square one," he told Sporza.

"You don't just skip a World Championship"
"These have been two tough weeks and it’s been hard to recharge, but you don’t just skip a World Championship. I’ve tried to train as much as possible. We'll see what the result will be."

The two-time European champion is now fit enough to pin on a race number, but still sounded a bit nasal during the Sporza interview. "That’s possible, because it’s definitely not fully out of my body yet. I’m trying not to focus on results for Sunday. I’ll be there, but what condition I am in is still a question mark for me."