Zonhoven CX World Cup 2024: favorites, schedules and how to watch

The World Cup returns to Belgium to close the Christmas period in the Flemish town of Zonhoven. Van der Poel will be the only one of the big three who will attend the event after Van Aert decided to be absent and Pidcock was forced to do so due to illness. In the women's category, the favorites will indeed start in what will presumably be another great battle for victory.

Where and when to watch the Zonhoven 2024 CX World Cup

The Zonhoven CX World Cup will take place on Sunday, January 7. The broadcasts can be followed on Eurosport, Discovery+, Telenet PlaySports, Proximus Pickx, FLobikes and Nos.nl.

Zonhoven CX World Cup Schedule

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

How does the CX World Cup arrive in Zonhoven?

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The arrival of the three cyclocross figures marked a before and after in the World Cup. The fight between the Iserbyt, Nieuwenhuis, Ronhaar, Van der Haar and company was replaced by a dominance that has been a common denominator since their debut in the mud: Van der Poel has ruled the competition with three victories in the three places where he has fought -Antwerp, Gavere and Hulst-.

The rainbow jersey is starring in a perfect season: participations are counted by victories, which he has achieved with an undeniable superiority.

Van Aert also made his debut in the competition in Antwerp, although the Belgian has followed a less triumphant path. Despite having achieved honorable results -two second places and a fifth in the World Cup-, this season he resists victory against Van der Poel. Even so, he remains one of the protagonists of the mud. Finally, he decided to be absent in Zonhoven and will only race in Benidorm.

The other rooster in the henhouse will not sing in Zonhoven. The team informed that Pidcock would be out due to illness in the X2O of Koksijde. The British will also not be in the Hexia Gullegem and in Zonhoven for this reason.

Beyond these three riders, other specialists are having a great season. Iserbyt arrives as the leader of the general but with less cushion of points after the abandonment in Hulst; Nieuwenhuis has gone from less to more to become one of the references of the discipline; Ronhaar has deflated in the last commitments but can catch air again; and Van der Haar usually has his chances wherever he competes.

On the other hand, Sweeck, Vanthourenhout or Nys will seek to make up for one of the few bullets left in the cartridge. Felipe Orts, absent in Koksijde due to a stomach virus, will pedal again on Sunday.

This is how the overall classification goes:

1. Eli Iserbyt 275 points
2. Joris Nieuwenhuis 240 points
3. Pim Ronhaar 238 points
4. Lars Van der Haar 237 points
5. Niels Vandeputte 198 points

In the women's category, equality has taken over the competition. Pieterse's return stirred the hornet's nest less than expected and Van Empel -unbeatable throughout the season- arrived with the badges of those who are predestined to victory. However, the battle of Hulst confirmed that Alvarado and Brand can also fight at the same level.

The untouchable poster has faded a bit, although Van Empel and Pieterse remain the favorites. Pieterse has awakened after a sluggish start to the campaign and is once again inspiring maximum respect, while Van Empel -beyond the downturn of the fourth place in Hulst- will start as another of the clear favorites for victory.

The aforementioned Alvarado and Brand arrive as real alternatives to fight for victory, as well as Bakker, Van der Heijden and Bentveld could have their share of protagonism. On the other hand, the team of Van Anrooij explained that the rider will be absent in Zonhoven and puts an end to the season.

This is how the overall classification goes:

1. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado 312 points
2. Lucinda Brand 237 points
3. Puck Pieterse 220 points
4. Manon Bakker 187 points
5. Inge Van der Heijden 184 points

A rival for Van der Poel is sought

The tyranny of Van der Poel extends wherever the Dutchman appears. The perfect season can go to another level in Zonhoven, as if he wins he will reach the magical figure of ten victories in the ten races contested this season. If Van der Poel's level has been superior to the rest of his rivals, without Van Aert or Pidcock in the fray the chances of achieving victory grow even more.

The sensations make him a clear favorite to win as he continues to hone a form that seems to have no limit.

The rest of the contenders will arrive at the battle aware of their possibilities, although they will try to carry out the feat. The fight will be marked by the calculator, since at this point some will already be thinking about the title.

Iserbyt, leader of the overall classification, comes rested after the collapse of Hulst that forced him to abandon; Nieuwenhuis is in a sweet moment and could stand out as one of the favorites; while Ronhaar, who held the pulse in Koksijde, will try to keep the options until the end.

Van der Haar, Vandeputte, Sweeck, Kamp or Nys will be other candidates for whom Zonhoven could reserve an important role.

Pieterse looks to extend his dominance against the threat of Van Empel, Alvarado and Brand

The versatile rider Pieterse has won the last two World Cup races - Gavere and Hulst - as well as the Diegem Supersprestige. The Dutchwoman finally found a great version of herself after struggling with a start of the season in which victory eluded her. Despite being on the podium in all the races she has competed in, the equality of the women's category makes it impossible to predict who will win.

Van Empel -fourteen victories in sixteen races- is another of the great favorites who, even with a lower level than expected in Hulst, returned to the path of victory in Baal and Koksijde. On the other hand, although the times when Alvarado reigned supreme are long gone, the overall leader is still in all the fights.

On the other hand, Brand should also be in the mix, as well as Bakker, Van der Heijden, Bentveld, Schreiber, Backstedt or Casasola.