Advertisement

It has been 11 years since Spain has hosted a UCI Cyclocross World Cup. That’s way back when Sven Nys and Kevin Pauwels were the headliners.

The 2023 UCI World Cup Benidorm is a unique event as this will be Benidorm’s first time hosting a UCI Cyclocross World Cup. Some of cyclocross’ biggest riders will be attending the race.

Elite Women

Powerhouse Fem van Empel (Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal) has recovered from her crash in Zonhoven and heads to Spain to defend her series leadership.

Here are some of the big racers that will be attending the race:

  1. World Champ Marianne Vos (Team Jumbo-Visma)
  2. Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions)
  3. Puck Pieterse (Alpecin – Deceuninck)
  4. 2023 UCI World Cup Zonhoven winner Shirin van Anrooij (Baloise Trek Lions)
  5. Fem van Empel
  6. Annemarie Worst (Team 777)

Seven North Americans will be attending the race.

Five Americans will be attending the race.

  1. Lizzy Gunsalus
  2. Clara Honsinger (Ef Education – Tibco – Svb)
  3. Jennifer Malik
  4. Raylyn Nuss
  5. Emily Werner

Two Canadians will be attending the race.

  1. Sidney Mcgill
  2. Maghalie Rochette

See the full start list below.

2023 UCI World Cup Benidorm Start List Elite Women

With two more races and a 30-point lead, Fem van Empel is in a strong position and most likely to win. Even if Van Empel finishes third and Puck Pieterse finishes first for the last two races, Van Empel will still win by five points. Here are the current top 10 standings.

UCI World Cup Current Standing Elite Women

RankNamePoints
1VAN EMPEL Fem355
2PIETERSE Puck320
3VAN ANROOIJ Shirin239
4VAN DER HEIJDEN Inge207
5ALVARADO Ceylin Del Carmen203
6BETSEMA Denise181
7BRAND Lucinda169
8SCHREIBER Marie151
9BAKKER Manon144
10CLAUZEL Hélene129

Junior Women

The Canadian Holmgren sisters will be the only North American representatives for the 2023 UCI World Cup Benidorm.

Lauren Molengraaf has won every single UCI World Cup Junior Women’s race this season. With such a strong position, it’s almost certain she wins. So even if Fleur Moors wins first for both races, all Molengraaf needs is 35 points to win. That means eighth place and ninth place in the last two races would be enough to reach 35 points, with her title sealed if she wins any of the last two races. See the full start list below.

2023 UCI World Cup Benidorm Start List Junior Women

Here are the current top 10 standings.

UCI World Cup Current Standing Junior Women

RankNamePoints
1MOLENGRAAF Lauren120
2MOORS Fleur74
3GERY Célia72
4HOLMGREN Ava69
5HOLMGREN Isabella58
6VAN SINAEY Xaydee54
7LOPEZ DE SAN ROMAN Vida50
8HANÁKOVÁ Eliska49
9CORVI Valentina47
10DE SCHEPPER Lore42