High-voltage cyclocross today with the first battle between the "Magnificent 3"

The Antwerp World Cup will be the stage for the first battle of the season between Van der Poel, Van Aert and Pidcock. The three best specialists in the discipline will take all the spotlight in a relentless race that will have two more episodes before the end of the year. In the women's category, there will be another significant return with Van Empel back in the mud.

Where and when to watch the 2023 Antwerp CX World Cup

The Antwerp CX World Cup will take place this Saturday, December 23. The broadcasts can be followed on Eurosport or Discovery+, as well as through Sporza, Proximus Pickx, Flobikes and Nos.nl.

Schedule of the Antwerp CX World Cup

• 13:40 Women's Elite
• 15:10 Men's Elite

How is the CX World Cup coming to Antwerp?

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The CX World Cup returned to Belgium in the Namur race as a prelude to the intense Christmas period that starts this Saturday in Antwerp. The competition has passed the halfway point of the season and this weekend's race is undoubtedly marked by the face-to-face between Van der Poel and Van Aert -who will coincide this Friday in the Exact Cross of Mol- and Pidcock -who so far has only shared mud with the Dutchman-.

The weather will give a break and, while rain is expected on Friday and Sunday, the forecast predicts that Saturday will be a calm day without precipitation and with moderate temperatures around 10 degrees.

Eli Iserbyt remains the overall leader despite losing points in the last race. The Kortrijk rider continues to shine and has buried the stigma that he starts the seasons well but deflates as the weeks go by. The Belgian holds his own and, with none of The Three Magnificent posing a threat to the title, will seek to maintain the distance with his pursuers.

The positive note of this campaign falls on a Pim Ronhaar who continues to amaze. The young rider has set the bar high in his first full season in the Elite category. Compatriots Van der Haar and Nieuwenhuis have also emerged as tough rivals capable of competing at a good level in almost all races.

On the other hand, Laurens Sweeck continues in that strange lethargy that prevents him from elevating his driving to the sphere that allowed him to conquer the overall in the last season. 

Here is the overall classification:

1. Eli Iserbyt 230 points
2. Pim Ronhaar 183 points
3. Lars Van der Haar 171 points
4. Joris Nieuwenhuis 167 points
5. Niels Vandeputte 152 points

In the women's category, Alvarado has been the dominator of the season. The Dutchwoman only missed the Flamanville day due to illness -unlike the numerous absences accumulated by the two main favorites- and has stepped on the podium in the other seven races: three victories, three seconds and a third.

Although Van Empel announced her return to the World Cup in Namur, she finally did not start and Antwerp will be the place where she returns to competition, almost two months and six races after her last participation in Maasmechelen.

In the fight will also be Piterese -always on the podium but without victories this season-, a great Lucinda Brand and Manon Bakker as the other headliners of the Dutch army that fills any race on the mud.

Here is the overall classification:

1. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado 235 points
2. Lucinda Brand 160 points
3. Manon Bakker 146 points
4. Inge Van der Heijden 132 points
5. Leonie Bentveld 127 points

Van der Poel, Van Aert and Pidcock: cyclocross prepares to enjoy the first clash between the three mud beasts

The arrival of The Three Magnificent invalidates any previous conclusion. Van der Poel, Van Aert and Pidcock blow up the status quo of the competition. The schemes break and with them also vanish many of the victory possibilities of any other rider. The triumph will be more expensive than ever and Iserbyt, Ronhaar, Van der Haar, Sweeck, Nieuwenhuis and company will have to rely on the epic.

The talent of the favorite trio is indisputable, although in principle Van der Poel and Van Aert start with a slight advantage. Both rivals know each other perfectly and the Friday's clash in Mol will allow to know if any of them has an extra with which they can make a difference. Logic invites to think that the equality will prevail, although for now everything is speculation. 

The only clear thing is that both shone in their debut: Van der Poel in the X2O of Herentals and Van Aert in the Exact Cross of Essen.

Pidcock should be in the fight for victory and hold on in the battle. The British rider has participated in two races to date -second behind Van der Poel in the X2O Herentals and winner in the Namur World Cup- and will arrive more rested than the other two beasts, as he will not race in Mol.

The other riders take a back seat, although we must remember the good work of some of them, such as Iserbyt, Ronhaar, Van der Haar or Nieuwenhuis, who could have their chances.

The Alvarado empire will seek to withstand the force of the Van Empel storm

Alvarado's season has been almost perfect. Consistency and dominance in the World Cup has allowed her to withstand the onslaught of all her rivals, including Pieterse - who has been present on four occasions - who embodies the role of favorite in any race she participates in.

However, Van Empel's numbers are scandalous: she has won all ten races she has started this season. The Dutchwoman's extraordinary performance - which includes the first two World Cup races - makes her the top favorite to win and to dethrone Alvarado, who otherwise has a big lead in the overall standings.

So far, they have met five times this season: Van Empel has won all of them and Alvarado has finished second in all of them.

Beyond these two competitors, the cameras will point to a Pieterse hungry for victory, as well as Brand, Van der Heijden, Bakker or Bentveld.