The Belgium national team is down half of the riders the coach Angelo De Clercq expected to fill the country's eight-man squad for the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships elite men's race, but have filled out the roster with new national champion Thibau Nys at the helm.
The team is without Wout van Aert, who broke a bone in his right foot in a crash during the Zilvermeercross in Mol earlier this month, Eli Iserbyt to an early retirement, Laurens Sweeck to an injured shoulder, and Emiel Verstrynge, who has brought his season to a close to focus on preparation for the road season.
That leaves Nys to lead the selection alongside Michael Vanthourenhout, Toon Aerts, Niels Vandeputte, Joran Wyseure, Toon Vandebosch, Jente Michels, and Gerben Kuypers.
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The UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships take place in Hulst, The Netherlands, on January 31 and February 1.
Although the team is missing some top names, Belgian Cycling is still looking for medals, even if dethroning seven-time world champion Mathieu van der Poel on his home soil.
"The puzzle was not so difficult anymore and had already been laid for a while," De Clercq said to Sporza. "I knew for a while that there would be absentees. I had been in contact with Emiel Verstrynge for the past few weeks, and we also knew that Wout and Laurens would not be there.
"They were all four medal contenders, so it's a shame to have to miss them. But the focus is now on the guys who are there."
Verstrynge was a close second to Nys in the recent Belgian championships and has had a stellar season with six podiums, including third in the Zonhoven and Antwerp World Cups. However, he is starting his second neo-pro year with Alpecin-Premier Tech, and has already planned to stop his cyclo-cross season with the Belgian championships in order to rest up for the road season.
For Nys' part, the new Belgian champion knows that topping Van der Poel will be an uphill battle, but De Clercq has confidence in the team's medal potential.
"Thibau should be able to follow [Van der Poel] for a long time. He has to have ambition to be on the podium, and you never know, Mathieu could have a bad day and Nys end up on the highest step anyway. Anyway, we have a very strong team to go to Hulst."
The team is hoping to win four medals total, including the non-elite races.
"This is a realistic goal. In a number of categories, we are with medal candidates and with the men's juniors and under-23s, we can perhaps even become world champions with a good day. It's interesting to see how far we get there."
Belgium for the 2026 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships
Elite Men
- Thibau Nys
- Michael Vanthourenhout
- Toon Aerts
- Niels Vandeputte
- Joran Wyseure
- Toon Vandebosch
- Jente Michels
- Gerben Kuypers
- Reserves: Anton Ferdinande, Wout Janssen, Witse Meeussen, Victor Van de Putte
Elite Women
- Marion Norbert Riberolle
- Julie Brouwers
U23 Men
- Viktor Vandenberghe
- Mats Vanden Eynde
- Sil De Brauwere
- Kay De Bruyckere
- Yordi Corsus
- Aaron Dockx
- Arthur Van den Boer
- Reserve: Kenay De Moyer
U23 Women
- Fleur Moors
- Shanyl De Schoesitter
Junior Men
- Giel Lejeune
- Jari Van Lee
- Bas Vanden Eynde
- Lars Corsus
Junior Women
