Absent Van der Poel, Wout van Aert will be the main attraction this Sunday at the Dendermonde World Cup

We are left without the long-awaited duel, so we will have to wait for the Maasmechelen World Cup (January 25) to enjoy the second and theoretically last Van der Poel vs Van Aert of this winter. The absence of the world champion opens up the field of candidates to win this Sunday in Dendermonde, the ninth of the twelve rounds of a competition in which Michael Vanthourenhout leads by 25 points over Toon Aerts.

Where and how to follow the Dendermonde World Cup

Eurosport 2 has once again been chosen by the thematic channel to broadcast live a new event within the intense racing program of the first week of January. The two elite races will have the usual coverage, maintaining the option to enjoy the entire show without commercial breaks through MAX and its sports extension.

Located between three of Belgium's most important cities (Brussels, Ghent, and Antwerp), the town of Dendermonde is in the East Flanders region. A crossroads that will host a round of the World Cup that can be experienced live for a price of 18€ by purchasing tickets in advance and 20€ if buying the ticket at the box office.

Dendermonde World Cup Schedule

Sunday, January 5

• Elite women's race: 13:40
• Elite men's race: 15:10

Vanthourenhout and Brand approach the overall World Cup standings

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Despite the notable absence of Van der Poel, Dendermonde will bring together the rest of the big names in the circuit this Sunday. A top-level test for all just under a month before the World Championships in Liévin and that will test riders like Pim Ronhaar; last year's winner on this same circuit, Eli Iserbyt, Michael Vanthourenhout, Thibau Nys, Lars van der Haar, Laurens Sweeck, Niels Vandeputte, Joran Wyseure, Toon Aerts, or the Spanish rider Felipe Orts. All of them are joined by Wout van Aert who will start in Dendermonde after participating in Gullegem on Saturday and faces his penultimate race within his particular 24/25 program.

Regarding the overall World Cup standings, Vanthourenhout (189) will try to take another step towards winning the final title with only three races left. After a bad day in Besançon, the Pauwels Sauzen - Cibel rider leads Toon Aerts by 25 points and is already more than 60 points ahead of Joran Wyseure, so the battle seems to be reduced to a duel between the top two. In the women's category, Lucinda Brand defends a comfortable 46-point lead over Fem van Empel, so she could practically secure her final victory if she completes a good race in Dendermonde.