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: Jeremy Powers
Powers will see the front row this year at Worlds. © Bart Hazen/Cyclocross Magazine
The last on our favorites list is the King of American Cyclocross: Jeremy Powers. But what about Corne van Kessel, David van der Poel, Gianni Vermeersch or Rob Peeters, you ask? Those guys won’t be starting on the front row. Powers will.
His eighth ranking in the world is just as impressive as his ninth overall standing at the 2014-15 World Cup. He nearly went undefeated in the C1 races in the Pro CX Calendar, and defended the National Jersey in Austin. He took a ninth place at Valkenburg, and notched a 13th place at Hoogerheide. When he had kept pace with the talented Vermeersch in several World Cup races, he was able to eek out head-to-head wins over the young rider.
With a course that suits some of Powers’ strengths, you should expect more from the American than a top-20. Powers has the ability to finish where he started: a top ten is more than a reachable goal.
