The UCI cyclocross season in the Northern Hemisphere is about to begin, and we’ve got some ultra low-res but final start lists from the first of China’s UCI Qiansen Trophy cyclocross races. The racing and UCI season kicks off in mere hours in China, which is nearly a full day ahead of the U.S.
Twelve Americans, five Brits, seven Australians and two Kiwis traveled to Bejing to make the two UCI C1 Cyclocross races. The 65-rider start list indicates a wide variety in talent, from top-50 ranked Belgian cyclocross racers to racers who typically contest Masters events.
Belgian Rob Peeters, ranked 40th in UCI rankings and teammate of 2016 World Champion Wout van Aert, might be one of the heavy favorite with last year’s double victor Wietse Bosmans (suffering from Lyme Disease) skipping the trip. Swiss Marcel Wildhaber, ranked 45th, should also contest for the podiums. Belgian Jens Adams (ranked 64th) and Dutch retired-except-in-China two-time winner Thijs Al made the trip to Beijing with hopes of keeping Peeters and Wildhaber from hoarding the C1 UCI points.
The duo of 2015 Cyclocross Junior World Champion Simon Andreassen and Kenneth Hansen from Denmark bring top-100 rankings and could be factors in the race. There’s always an element of mystery with such a diverse group of racers.
Rob Peeters, teammate of World Champ Wout van Aert, will line up in China for the 2016 Qiansen Trophy UCI C1 cyclocross races. © Bart Hazen
American men making the start (h/t Matthew Urchull for the image):
U.S. Men at the 2016 Qiansen Tropy Cyclocross Race #1 in Beijing, China
See the men’s race official start list, in three awfully blurry pieces, and stay tuned for full coverage of the 2016 Qiansen Trophy UCI C1 Cyclocross Races. 2016 Qiansen Trophy women’s start list is here.
2016 China’s Qiansen Trophy Cyclocross Race #1 – Men’s Start List
