Jurgen Mettepenningen has indicated that top-tier riders Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, and Thibau Nys are expected to compete in the upcoming World Cup round in Hamme on January 23. Speaking in a report covered by Wielernieuws, Mettepenningen let slip that elite participants have informally committed to the event, which is scheduled just one week before the World Championships. The disclosure casts doubt on speculation that Mathieu van der Poel might skip the winter discipline entirely, while also pointing to a stacked start sheet in the Waasland municipality.
Double Racing Scheduled in Hamme
The municipality of Hamme will host two cyclo-cross events. First, the iconic Bollekescross returns to Hamme-Zogge at the end of October after a thirteen-year absence. Mettepenningen, who serves as a co-organizer for the local races alongside his management role with the Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw team—soon to be rebranded as Skylux-Altez Industriebouw—expressed enthusiasm about bringing the historic race back to its former home.
In addition to the autumn race, Hamme will welcome a World Cup round on January 23. Mettepenningen noted that hosting the World Cup places the Belgian town alongside international venues such as Benidorm and Tabor.
Elite Field Expected for January World Cup
Addressing the composition of the starting grid for the January fixture, Mettepenningen told Sporza that the timing of the race serves as a major draw for the sport’s biggest names. “All top riders will be present because that cross is planned a week before the World Championships,” he stated. When pressed on whether every major star would appear, he added, “I expect them all at the start. Some riders have already agreed off the record, but it is not up to me to make those names public.”
These remarks strongly imply Mathieu van der Poel will bypass a planned sabbatical winter in the field. Wout van Aert and Thibau Nys are likewise anticipated to join the start list in Hamme, though official roster confirmations from the riders and their respective teams remain pending.
Next Confirmed Checkpoint
The cyclo-cross season gets underway this weekend as the road racing calendar draws to a close, leading directly into the winter cross fixtures ahead of the Bollekescross later this month.
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