Belgian national cyclocross coach has had a look at the World Championships course in St-Wendel, Germany and he has proclaimed it a good one for the Belgians; providing it stays muddy and does not freeze, that is. Weather in the area is currently fluctuating around freezing, and is forecast to do so for the next few days; right now though De Bie is optimistic for a mudfest in less than two weeks time.
“Whoever doesn’t wear boots will get wet feet,” De Bie told Het Nieuwsblad, “and there will be a lot of cycling [on the course] in the next week.
"If there’s no more frost, it will be very heavy. It will be no running party, because there should only be run on the stairs, but a lot of stomping [on the pedals] and pushing [hard]."
Muddy courses tend to favour the stronger riders, with lesser riders unable to hang onto their slipstreams as the negative resistance from the mud overrides the positive effect of the draft. The previous World Cup race in Pontchâteau, France had few obstacles and very little mud, meaning that many riders rode much of the race in a virtual peloton.
This will not happen in St-Wendel, according to De Bie.
“These circumstances rule out a tactical cross,” explained De Bie. “There is little [time for] recovery, because you're required to constantly push; otherwise you stand still. Do not expect a fast race as in Pontchâteau, where at the end of some unknown figures were able to hang on. As it is now, it will be a struggle of man against man."
For Belgium, there is one rider to fear: the defending champion Zdenek Stybar of the Czech Republic. Although Stybar has been warm weather training in Mallorca and avoiding the exertions of the Pontchâteau race, and the travel to and from western France, with the course as it is De Bie feels that his riders can overcome the Czech.
"We are afraid of Stybar anyway,” he confirmed. “But he is a ice specialist, and on a frozen course he is always a few percent ahead. Now he starts with the same weapons as the Belgians. If [Niels] Albert can see this, it will definitely boost his confidence; and for [Sven] Nys it is good, just as for [Bart] Wellens, [Klaas] Vantornout, [Kevin] Pauwels and the other riders.
“The mud is good for the Belgians; super fast races are not for us, so let's hope it does not freeze."
The cyclocross World Championships will take place in St-Wendel on the weekend of January 29th and 30th. Saturday the 29th will see the Junior and Under-23 men’s races, with the Elite men and women racing on Sunday the 30th.