Belgium’s Michael Vanthourenhout claims World Cup crown, hopes for team glory in Liévin showdown.
Belgium’s Michael Vanthourenhout has claimed the 2024-2025 Cyclocross World Cup overall title, cementing his place among the sport’s elite. Despite finishing second behind a dominant Mathieu van der Poel in the final round at Hoogerheide, Vanthourenhout’s consistency throughout the season earned him the coveted title.
Van der Poel, representing Alpecin-Deceuninck, showcased his immense power on Sunday, leaving his competitors struggling to keep up. He stormed to victory, finishing 1:42 ahead of Vanthourenhout. Speaking after the race, Vanthourenhout admitted, “I tried to follow him, but he was much too strong today. It was a tough race, but I held on for second.”
The Belgian rider, representing Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel Clementines, secured the series win with two victories earlier in the season and solid performances in the remaining rounds. With the World Championships in Liévin just days away, Vanthourenhout is optimistic about continuing his momentum, stating, “I hope to start with good legs on Sunday and fight for a podium spot.”
Vanthourenhout will lead a formidable Belgian squad that includes three-time world champion Wout van Aert, Toon Aerts, Eli Iserbyt, and rising stars Thibau Nys and Laurens Sweeck. Van Aert, a late addition to the team, aims to challenge Van der Poel’s quest for a seventh elite men’s world title.
The Belgian team has dominated the World Cup standings, with Aerts and Joran Wyseure joining Vanthourenhout in a clean sweep of the top three spots. They hope to replicate this feat in Liévin, solidifying Belgium’s cyclocross supremacy.
Eli Iserbyt, a former European and Belgian national champion, has faced challenges this season due to nerve issues in his leg. While he managed a sixth-place finish in Hoogerheide, he struggled on the muddy uphill sections, saying, “Running uphill has been a weak point lately, but I’m hopeful for better conditions in Liévin.”
Meanwhile, Dutch rider Lars van der Haar, who completed the podium in Hoogerheide, acknowledged the strength of the Belgian team. “If the World Championship is muddy, it’ll be a straightforward race. If it’s fast, it’ll be more tactical,” he noted.
As the cyclocross world turns its attention to the World Championships in Liévin, all eyes are on the battle between Belgium’s finest and the indomitable Mathieu van der Poel. With high stakes and fierce rivalries, Sunday promises to be a spectacle of skill, strategy, and determination.
