On the beach of Heerde, we will see the next Dutch cyclocross on Saturday. Not under evening light like the Night of Woerden, but a sand race that is part of the Exact Cross series. World champion Fem van Empel and Joris Nieuwenhuis are among the big favorites in the elite categories. Cyclingflash looks ahead.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 |  Joris Nieuwenhuis |
| 2024 |  Eli Iserbyt |
| 2023 | Niels Vandeputte |
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Fem van Empel |
| 2024 | Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado |
| 2023 | Manon Bakker |
As the name of the race suggests, the recreational area of Heerderstrand hosts this cyclocross. Around the swimming pond, we find a combination of some paved sections, a few passages through sand, and some more technical parts through the park and grass.
On paper, you might call it a sand race, but inquiries with the organizers tell us that conclusion is not so straightforward. “Don’t be mistaken: this is not the same sand as in Alphen or by the Scheldt in Antwerp. It’s very coarse sand, where you can ride through at most about ten meters," says Bert Jan Hamer of the organization.
"We had to be careful not to include too many passages in the course; otherwise, it would become too tough. The added value of the beach is mostly in the beautiful view.”
The day before the tough Superprestige race in Overijse, not everyone is eager for a sand appointment. Many riders prefer to save their energy for the battle on the Tenotsberg, but fortunately not everyone.
For example, Joris Nieuwenhuis gets the chance to take revenge for his narrow defeat in Ruddervoorde. The Dutch all-rounder, who rides for Ridley under the guidance of Richard Groenendaal, slipped away halfway in the West Flemish town. Nieuwenhuis seemed on course for a solo victory, but in the finale, he was joined by the other favorites. In the sprint, he still fought strongly, falling just millimeters short of the first winner’s bouquet of the cyclocross winter.
It goes without saying that Nieuwenhuis, who missed part of last season due to struggles with shingles, wants to take revenge soon. But then he will have to hold off Laurens Sweeck. For years now, the Crelan-Corendon rider has been considered the sand specialist of the cyclocross peloton. He still is, but is the sand of Heerde – with many running sections – favorable for Sweeck?
Laurens Sweeck is back in form – photo: Photopress agency Cor Vos
Some riders starting in Heerde also showed their skills earlier this week in the Night of Woerden, like Spanish champion Felipe Orts. A victory in a TV race had been due for some time for Orts, who last year nearly won the European Cyclocross Championships and a World Cup race. With an extra year on the clock, he has now taken the step to winning.
It was also heartwarming to see Pim Ronhaar resurface in Woerden after a difficult summer and especially last winter. Ronhaar is back at a high level, but that can be said of half the cyclocross peloton. Take Niels Vandeputte, the spearhead of Alpecin-Deceuninck. The technically strong and explosive Belgian can also easily win in Heerde.
Women
In the women’s race, there is a clear top favorite at the start. World champion Fem van Empel has very consciously included some 'smaller' Dutch races in her program because she wants to inspire young Dutch riders. She already did that earlier this week in Woerden, and the world champion is present in Heerde for the same reason.
Where she said she lacked the form she wanted in her first race in Ruddervoorde, we saw more glimpses of the best Van Empel in the Night of Woerden. We now know Van Empel is the best cyclocross rider in the world, yet she is cycling primarily with the thought in mind that she wants to have fun and not put too much pressure on herself. We also wish the world champion that in Heerde.
The competitors are closer to Van Empel than last year. We must give credit to a very strong Aniek van Alphen. The leader of Seven Racing, the former Cyclocross Reds, started the season very well and made Van Empel particularly challenged in Woerden. She should also go far in this technical race.
The same applies to the women of Crelan-Corendon, Inge van der Heijden and Manon Bakker, who have both won a race this winter. Other outsiders include the Frenchwoman Hélène Clauzel and the Dutch Leonie Bentveld from Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw.
Quite a bit of rain is expected in Heerde on Saturday, which according to Meteovista could amount to up to 6 mm. The temperature will rise to a maximum of 11 degrees Celsius, and the wind will blow fairly strong, up to 4 Beaufort.
Internationale Cyclo-cross Heerderstrand| Rank | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 56:50 | |
| 2 | + 25 | |
| 3 | + 48 | |
| 4 | + 01:43 | |
| 5 | + 01:52 | |
| 6 | + 01:59 | |
| 7 | + 02:07 | |
| 8 | + 02:10 | |
| 9 | + 02:19 | |
| 10 | + 02:36 |
Internationale Cyclo-cross Heerderstrand| Rank | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 43:17 | |
| 2 | + 14 | |
| 3 | + 19 | |
| 4 | + 57 | |
| 5 | + 03:05 | |
| 6 | + 03:31 | |
| 7 | + 03:39 | |
| 8 | + 03:44 | |
| 9 | + 03:56 | |
| 10 | + 04:03 |
| # | Rider | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 66.27% | |
| 2 | 8.47% | |
| 3 | 6.16% | |
| 4 | 3.07% | |
| 5 | 3.06% |
Van Empel has secured her first win – photo: Photopress agency Cor Vos
| # | Rider | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 39.72% | |
| 2 | 26.71% | |
| 3 | 8.83% | |
| 4 | 5.82% | |
| 5 | 5.52% |
Exact Cross - Heerde
