After the World Cup in Namur offered a race that could hardly be surpassed in terms of excitement, today we can look forward to the revenge in Heusden-Zolder. Can German champion Philipp Walsleben (BKCP-Powerplus) close the gap to World Cup leader Lars van der Haar (Rabobank)?
In Namur, much had initially looked like a defeat for Van der Haar. After a fall in the second lap, Walsleben managed to pull away from the competition. However, the Kleinmachnower used up too many reserves of energy on the following laps to withstand the onslaught of the Dutchman at the end. The World Cup lead, which was within reach, moved a little further into the distance for Walsleben. Nevertheless, the situation is anything but hopeless. A good race at Heusden-Zolder, on a course that should suit him, can bring him closer to the front again.
In addition to the World Cup second, Marcel Meisen (Kwadro-Stannah), Sascha Weber (Differdange-Losch), Christoph Pfingsten (De Rijke-Shanks), Michael Schweizer (Stevens), Ole Quast (Stevens), Yannick Meyer (Gunsha-KMC) and Max Walsleben (Nutrixxion Abus).
For the women, you can look forward to multiple cyclocross world champion Hanka Kupfernagel (Ridley-Shimano). The Thuringian contests her first World Cup of the season and will want to face the leading American Katie Compton (Trek).
As always, the live stream will be available here from 13:30 p.m.