We haven’t done a Rumors and Rumblings or Euro Roundup in a while, but so much has happened in the European cyclocross world this week that it begs a new installment.
Sunday’s Koksijde World Cup Will Continue Under High Security
The tragedies in Paris took its emotional toll on much of the world this week, and it will continue to impact all participants and spectators this Sunday at the UCI Cyclocross World Cup at the sand dunes in Koksijde, Belgium.
Cyclocross Magazine’s European correspondent Christine Vardaros has reported that while authorities are concerned that the popular race that attracts tens of thousands of spectators could be a potential terrorist target, the race will go on. Instead, the event will feature higher security for both spectators and racers attending the race on the sand dune-filled military site.
Van Aert will headline the new high security 2015 World Cup in Koksijde. © Bart Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
“There is a new refugee shelter actually right across the street from the Koksijde race site,” Vardaros explains. “This was usually where the press were housed during the race. And since the arrival of the on-site refugees, security has been kept high. It is even hard for the racers to get inside. We all have to submit our license plate numbers beforehand to gain entry.”
Vardaros also reports that security will be “frisking everyone and running them through metal detectors” and are asking spectators to leave backpacks behind. If you’re planning on attending the race, plan on some extra time to get inside the sandbox.
The World Champ MVDP is Back
We haven’t seen the 2015 Elite Men’s Cyclocross World Champion in his rainbow stripes this year, and this weekend’s World Cup will mark Mathieu van der Poel’s return from knee surgery. We’re all curious to see how he’ll do in his first game back, and he’s counting down the days:
After every training 60min of active compression and cold therapy with the @GameReady. Thanks @sportkine. #10days pic.twitter.com/EXasG4TVOY
— Mathieuvanderpoel (@mathieuvdpoel) November 12, 2015
Wieste Bosmans Suffers from Lyme Disease Relapse
Wietse Bosmans, after ending his season last year in October to recover from Lyme disease, enjoyed a successful return to top-level cyclocross racing this season, taking wins in China and at Nittany to relaunch his career and qualify for World Cups. Sadly for the Belgian, he is still suffering from Lyme disease, announcing on his Facebook page that it’s now a chronic form of the disease. The upside is that his doctors believe he has a 95% chance of a full recovery:
Telenet-Fidea Team for Sale
Want to buy a top cyclocross team?
Telenet-Fidea owner Hans van Kasteren plans to the professional cyclocross team, which includes the Elite Men, Elite Women and U23/Junior teams.
Current riders include Ellen van Loy, Nikki Harris, Tom Meeusen, Thijs van Amerongen and Corne van Kessel.
Ellen van Loy (Telenet – Fidea) is one of the stars on the women’s team that is now for sale.
Vardaros reports that Golazo Sports, title sponsor of the GP Sven Nys, is one of the candidates to buy the team, with Sven Nys, Sven Vanthourenhout and Jan Verstraeten all to be involved.
Also placing a bid for the team is Nick Nuyens, the recently retired pro of the UCI ProTeam Cannondale-Garmin. Nuyens’s contract was not renewed and he failed to find a new team but is ready to launch the second phase of his career. He also won Tour of Flanders and Dwars door Vlaanderen in 2011
Van der Haar Hit by Car
Dutch cyclocross star Lars van der Haar got hit by car a few days ago, but came away with just a shoulder bruise thankfully, and will be lining up in Koksijde:
Little shocker today. Got hit by a car at a roundabout! Luckily I came off with only a small bruise on my shoulder #crash #rightofway #discs
— Lars van der Haar (@larsvanderhaar) November 13, 2015
