Besançon CX World Cup 2023: favourites, schedules and how to watch

Besançon will host the last CX World Cup race of the season. Van der Poel arrives as the main favourite in the absence of Van Aert and Pidcock. With the overall already decided in favour of Sweek, the event is the last race before the World Championships in Hoogerheide.

Where and when to watch the Besançon CX World Cup 2023

The race will take place on January 29th. For those who want to travel to the French town to experience it live, tickets are priced at 15 euros or 18 euros if purchased on Sunday.

Schedule of the CX World Cup Besançon

Sunday January 29th

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

Where to watch the CX World Cup Besançon

The Besançon World Cup can be followed on the Eurosport app and on GCN.

Van der Poel takes on the role of top favourite in the final tune-up before the World Championships

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The Dutchman from Alpecin-Deceuninck will be the only one of the Magnificent Three to start in Besançon. With his main rivals out of competition - Van Aert will race the Flandriencross X2O on Saturday 28th and Pidcock has already said goodbye to the mud this season - Van der Poel is the top contender for the victory.

The Orange Beast arrives after winning in Benidorm a great duel with Van Aert and could add his sixth victory of the season, the fifth in the World Cup.

The race is highlighted by its proximity to the World Championships in Hoogerheide. The World Championships will take place only one week later, which makes Besançon the place where the riders will be able to finish testing themselves and see how fit they will be on February 5th.

The strongest rivals who will try to beat Van der Poel on Sunday will most likely be those who usually occupy the top positions. Sweek, already mathematically crowned first overall, will be looking to seal his great World Cup season in the best possible way.

Iserbyt will surely be another one of those fighting for the top places. The Belgian will try to close a World Cup campaign that started fantastically with three consecutive victories.

Vanthourenhout will land in France as Belgian National Champion after missing the race in Benidorm due to fever. Van der Haar will do the same after winning the Dutch National for the second year in a row.

Pieterse, top contender in Van Empel's absence

In the women's category, Pieterse will be the favourite in an event in which many of the favourites will be absent. Van Empel, who after her victory in Benidorm already won the general classification, will not be present in France to prepare for the World Championships.

Also, Van Anrooij and Alvarado will not take part on Sunday. Van der Heijden, Betsema or Bakker are likely to be in contention for the top places.