Cyclocross: Next weekend it's that time again and crossers are looking for their national champions almost everywhere in Europe, including Germany. On January 13th and 14th, the new jersey wearers of all classes will be determined at the German Cyclocross Championship in Bensheim, Hesse.
Before the Cyclocross World Championships in Valkenburg on the first weekend in February, the national champions are traditionally determined at the beginning of January. The German championship weekend in Bensheim begins on Saturday, January 3rd at 9:30 am with the Masters 3 and ends on Sunday, January 4th with the men's elite race, which will start at 14.30:XNUMX pm.
All races will be held according to the respective time specifications on a circuit with a length of three kilometers in the Bensheimer Sportpark West. The course seems technically demanding and, in addition to 600 meters on asphalt and 500 meters on gravel, also has a sand passage of 50 meters and should therefore also be very varied.
After the withdrawal of the German cross country specialist Philipp Walsleben after a few appearances this season, the reigning German champion and defending champion Marcel Meisen is traded as the clear favorite among the men. Meisen has already won three cross-country races this season and was seventh in the World Cup race in Namur. In the women's category, Jessica Lambracht is the defending champion.
The champions will also be sought in the cyclocross nations of Belgium and the Netherlands at the weekend. There have often been surprises here in the past. Nevertheless, the title for the pros will only go through the top favorites Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel, who are also considered clear contenders for victory at the world championship.
Schedule for the German Cyclocross Championship Bensheim:
Saturday January 13th
9.30:3 a.m. Masters XNUMX
10:40 a.m. students U15
11:40 a.m. youth female U17
11:40 a.m. Students U15
13:30 p.m. youth male U17
14:50 p.m. Men U23
Sunday January 14st
10:00 a.m. Masters 2
11:20 a.m. Women Elite
11:20 a.m. Women U23
13:00 p.m. Juniors U19
14:30 Men Elite
According to the organizer, a free live stream will be available via the event's website.