Namur 2023 CX World Cup: favorites, schedules and how to watch

The World Cup returns to Belgium to kick off the second half of the season. The eighth event on the calendar will take place in Namur and will be the last race before entering the Christmas carousel. Tom Pidcock will be the center of attention, with the permission of Iserbyt, Sweeck, Van der Haar and company. The women's category presents a special attraction with the announced participation of Van Empel, Pieterse, Alvarado and Brand.

Where and when to watch the Namur 2023 CX World Cup

The Namur CX World Cup will take place on Sunday, December 17. The broadcasts can be followed on Eurosport, GCN -which will definitely close next Tuesday- or Discovery+.

Schedule of the Namur CX World Cup

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

How does the CX World Cup arrive in Namur?

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The last race in Val di Sole marked the halfway point of this edition of the CX World Cup. The calendar has advanced enough to offer the riders a complete reading of the first half of the season. From here to the end, the competition will always count with at least one of the Three Magnificent; specifically, it will be Pidcock who will attend this weekend.

The forecasts point to a cold but dry race without mud, as on paper the rest of the week -including Sunday- will pass without rain.

Nieuwenhuis emerged as the clear winner of the Val di Sole battle, although the very particular nature of the Italian event helps little when extrapolating conclusions to other more usual scenarios. Even so, Nieuwenhuis has maintained a regular level throughout the campaign that places him in fourth position overall.

Often the riders who have made headlines during this first part of the season have been Iserbyt, Ronhaar and Van der Haar. The first leads the classification and has signed two victories -Troyes and Flamanville-, Ronhaar has raised his arms on two other occasions -Dendermonde and Dublin-, while Van der Haar has done it once -Maasmechelen- but accumulates three second places.

Both Ronhaar and Van der Haar face the week after resting during the alpine snow event.

The negative note continues to be a Sweeck that at times seems to recover his best version, despite the fact that victory eludes him. The Belgian has stepped on the podium three times but remains somewhat irregular. Nys will be absent again after being the sensation of the start of the campaign.

Here is the general classification at the halfway point of the campaign:

1. Eli Iserbyt 208 points
2. Pim Rinhaar 153 points
3. Lars Van der Haar 151 points
4. Joris Nieuwenhuis 142 points
5. Laurens Sweeck 134 points

In the women's category, Alvarado is the undisputed queen. The Dutchwoman has been on all podiums -except in Flamanville, where she did not start- and has achieved a significant margin in the general classification. Despite this, Brand has found a great version of herself that has earned her the last two victories -not counting her absence in Val di Sole-.

However, the category will raise the level with the return of Van Empel -who has emerged victorious from the two races she has competed in- and the new participation of Pieterse.

Here is the general classification at the halfway point of the campaign:

1. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado 195 points
2. Lucinda Brand 135 points
3. Manon Bakker 133 points
4. Inge Van der Heijden 111 points
5. Leonie Bentveld 109 points

Pidcock enters the game of favorites along with Iserbyt, Van der Haar and Ronhaar

The CX World Cup races without the three mud beasts are now history. The second half of the season is marked by the long-awaited presence of the star trio, which begins to move: Van Aert debuted with victory at the Exact Cross in Essen -although he is now in concentration-, while Van der Poel and Pidcock will raise the curtain this Saturday.

The difference is that the X2O in Herentals will be the only race of the week for the Dutchman, unlike Pidcock who will also be present the next day in Namur. The Briton will pedal again on the mud and, although in Herentals his chances of victory will be exposed, the truth is that the great performance shown on other occasions suggests that he will be prepared to present battle.

Iserbyt is the leader of the overall and, as such, he is the favorite. The Belgian materialized in victories his good start and arrives in Namur with great sensations. The discreet result in Val di Sole -fifth place- could be the result of avoiding unnecessary risks, so this Sunday he should be at his best again.

Van der Haar will try to extend the regularity that is giving him great results this season, while Ronhaar wants to continue with good performances in his first full season as Elite.

In addition, Sweeck, Vanthourenhout, Nieuwenhuis or Khun could be in the fight.

Van Empel threatens the kingdom of Alvarado under the vigilant gaze of Pieterse

The absence of Van Empel - out of the World Cup since Maasmechelen - allowed Alvarado to build her empire without having to compete against the best specialist in the discipline. Alvarado has shown a spectacular form, which has given her the right to be the reference rider of the competition.

Now she will have to defend the kingdom she has conquered from the legs of Van Empel, who has a résumé -this season she has nine victories in nine races- that makes her the favorite to win. Pieterse, the cyclist touched with the wand of the cycling gift, will also be in the spotlight as one of the rivals who will fight for the victory.

On the other hand, Brand, Van Anrooij or Schreiber are expected to play a good role in Namur.