Preview: Superprestige Overijse 2023 – Scene in the Mother of All Crosses

Niels Bastians •
Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 7:15 am

the The mother of all crosses He returns to the Telenet Superprestige this season after three years of the World Cup. For the first time since 2000, the Cross of Grapes is once again part of the country’s oldest regularity standard. Given the heavy rainfall in recent days, expect a lot of slipping and sliding in the Overijsee mud. Who will join this impressive honors list? Cycling Looking forward!

date

The last ten winners of Overseas

men
2022: Michael Vanthornhout
2021: Elie Esserbet
2020: Woot Fan Art
2019: Matthew van der Poel
2018: ton aerts
2017: Matthew van der Poel
2016: Matthew van der Poel
2015: Matthew van der Poel
2014: Tom Meussin
2013: Sven Ness

slim
2022: Bookbeaters
2021: Blanca Cata Fez
2020: Celine del Carmen Alvarado
2019: Anne Marie is worse
2018: Lucinda brand
2017: Pauline Ferrand Prévot
2016: Sophie de Boer
2015: Julian Verschueren
2014: Sunny was
2013: Catherine Compton

last year

Result Men – World Cup Overseas
1. Michael Vanthornhout (Pauls-Bingol Sauces)
2. Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers) is third
3. Lars van der Haar (Balloise Trek Lions) at 37 seconds
4. Lawrence Swick (Krilan-Frestads) at 1 minute and 09 seconds
5. Joris Nieuwenhuis (Balloise Trek Lions) at one and a half minutes

Women’s results – World Cup Overseas
1. Buck Bitters (Alpecin dissoninck)
2. Wim van Empel (Pauls Sosin-Bingol) at 1 minute and 03 seconds
3. Shirin van Anweij (Balloise Trek Lions) with a time of 1 minute and 36 seconds
4. Lucinda Brand (Balloise Trek Lions) in 1:51 seconds
5. Celine del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin Desoninck) at 1 minute and 56 seconds

Effect

The course at Overijse provides a fantastic scene every year. It is one of the toughest and most diverse courses on the cyclo-cross circuit. The course has been completely modified in recent years, but this time the modifications were more limited.

If you look at the roadmap, you’ll notice that the finish has been moved slightly compared to last year. “Riders now enter the main course from a distance, so that the start and finish line are longer than last year. When riders leave the park, they take an extra turn along the Emil Karlsstraat towards the finish at Terhulpensesteenweg,” says course designer Kurt Vernemen.

The first counters on the field have also been slightly modified. For example, we no longer see the stairs in the first passage into the forest. “Then it goes down the same line towards the materials station. After the post, the first passage follows through the forest, which will now be divided into two stages. We separated the track a little bit there to provide better flow for the audience.

But of course the biggest adjustment came last year, when the asphalt Tennotsburg was suddenly removed from the track. “We were very satisfied with that. The last time we came, the space was somewhat limited, whereas now we are in a much better position. What is also nice is that the climbs are now done more in the meadows.

Due to heavy rain, there will be slipping and sliding again on Sunday. “If there is little rain, the track always becomes a bit slippery. This is the case in Overijse. There has been little rain in recent days and it will continue to rain in the coming days,” Vernemen concludes. In short: we will see an amazing cross.

Program and information

Program Sunday, October 22, 2023
12:00: Junior category
1.40pm: Women’s and U23 Elite
3.10pm: Elite Men and Under-23s

location
Terhulpensesteenweg, 3090 Overijse

general information
You can get tickets in advance online at this link For 14.5 euros. Tickets are €2.5 more expensive at the same day box office. Children under 12 years old can enter for free.

Practical information
Telenet Superprestige website
Droivencross website

Favorite men

The first World Cup of the season has made us wiser about value ratios, but not entirely in reality. In Overijse it is completely different, there is a long climb and a large portion of mud. A cross for strength, and in this regard, young talents usually perform less well than experienced passers. This also applies to Tibau NiceWho excelled in the technical crosses for Beringen and Waterloo? Or can it also handle a course like Overijse?

Will we soon see Isserbet cheering again? – Photo: Cor Vos

Elie Esserbet He had a tough time in the first two races of the season. The West Flemish had the physical fitness to compete, but something went wrong with the equipment. At Beringen he had to deal with an equipment failure, and at Waterloo there were problems with the cleat, meaning Iserbyt was unable to complete a single cross without damage. Keep in mind that Overijse is a stadium that suits him well, and we have the Druivenkoers favorite.

Michael Vanthornhout He is the defending champion here. The European champion is probably one of the best climbers in the cyclo-cross peloton, so he can enjoy his time every year in the Overijsee. During the previous edition, he did the impossible by preventing favorite Tom Pidcock from winning after a thrilling duel. This time he will have to compete against his compatriots, but that does not mean that it will be easy to repeat his trick.

The Baloise Trek Lions block in particular is in good condition. Next to Nys, he also explained Pim ronhar A high level of heaven on a shepherd’s land trip at Waterloo. Then we have Joris Nieuwenhuis and Lars van der Haar Not mentioned yet. However, team play wouldn’t be of much use to them in Overseas, because the course is simply too difficult for them. Will more of that too Try Kuipers and climber Ton Vandebosch are involved.

Will Pim Runhaar continue the strong streak? – Photo: Cor Vos

Favorites according to WielerFlits
***Eli Iserbit
** Thibaut Ness, Michael Vanthornhout
* Pim Rönehaar, Gerben Kuipers, Lars van der Haar

Favorite women

Anyone who saw the first cross between Beringen and Waterloo can already feel that feeling: world champion Wim van Empel She has a set of scorching legs, with which she could – if she wanted to – lead the competition in a matter of minutes. We fear that the balance of power in a course like Overijse will be highlighted even more. Especially since strikers Bouk Pieterse and Shirin van Anerweg are taking a break.

Who does Wim van Empel do and what? – Photo: Cor Vos

Van Empel’s dominance is particularly unfortunate Celine del Carmen AlvaradoWhich reaches both Beringen and Waterloo Better than the rest belongs. It always crossed the line a full minute after Van Empel, but given the superhero’s sheer dominance in the making, Alvarado should not be dissatisfied. One day its price will fall, perhaps already on the difficult path of Overijse?

Anne-Marie West, Denise Betsema And Anik van Alphen They prepared themselves in an alternative way. The trio didn’t make the tiring journey to the other side of the pond, but were spotted in Oystervik last weekend. On other days, Betsema and Worst can work on their training buildup. Aside from the now injured Blanca Vaas, Van Alphen and Betsema had a nice battle for the silver medal, which should provide confidence for what comes next.

Inge van der Heijden She pointed out that the American trip was not going well for her, because the long jet lag had a major impact on her. Hopefully it will return to normal in Overijse. Moreover, Marie Schreiber will also want to show herself, just like competitor Saint-Cant and victorious queen Laura Verdonschut.

Denise Betsema chose an alternative setting – Image: Cor Vos

Favorites according to WielerFlits
*** Wim van Empel
** Celine del Carmen Alvarado, Annemarie Wurst
* Dennis Betsema, Inge van der Heijden, Anick van Alphen

Weather and TV

Although there will be plenty of rain from the sky all week, it is expected to remain reasonably dry in Overijsee on Sunday. The track will still be quite wet, but no rain on race day itself is always a good thing. Temperatures will not exceed 13 degrees Celsius, according to WeatheronlineThe wind blows strongly, reaching five Beauforts.

Dutch viewers don’t have to miss any of the elite men’s and women’s shows on Sunday and can watch from 1:30 p.m. Eurosport 1 Or electronic channels Eurosport.nl/Discovery+/GCN+. In Belgium, the rights lie with you Telenet plays sports And Proximus Pixxwho pick up their open channels from 1:15 p.m.