With World Champion Zdenek Stybar out with injury, the hometown favorites at the 2015 World Cyclocross Championship will have to fight their way through the fields if they want a chance at first. We present to you some of our favorite contenders for the Men's Elite Race, with a quick look at all the American racers as well as some international riders to look out for. The weather shows that snow will be likely before and during the Women's and Junior races on Saturday. Only time will tell how much of that will factor into Sunday's U23 and Men's races.
Also, don't miss our Women's Elite Race Preview for Tabor.
The Favorites: Tom Meeusen
Tom Meeusen cooling down. © Jonas Bruffaerts
This fourth ranked rider in the world thought his chances to compete at Tabor might have been over due to a pending investigation into his relationship with an ozone doctor. The blow could not have come at a worse time for Meeusen, who was building his momentum after finishing second in the Belgium National Championship. After he pulled an 11th hour appeal, he was able to compete in Hoogerheide at the last minute, and his spot on the Worlds Team was reopened for him.
That was the good news. The bad news was that the ordeal looked to have mental repercussions on the Telenet Fidea rider. He came out at Hoogerheide firing away from the starting grid, attacking on the pavement and creating a gap that looked too good to be true. It was. He blew himself up early and struggled as he lost places for the remainder of the World Cup race.
The real question will be if Meeusen’s lesson was learned. He is an exceptional rider who quietly took plenty of fourth and fifth place finishes this year in an impressive field. He certainly has the skill and legs to take a win, and he is often the hardest-working chaser out of the pack. He will just need to race Tabor through his own style rather than trying to force himself and dictate the race at the front.
