Cyclo-cross World Cup Dublin Elite Women’s Race Preview
The UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Dublin Women's Elite Race takes place this Sunday (Picture: UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup)
Excitement is building for the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Dublin stage as many of the best riders in the world descend on the Sport Ireland Campus.
Round nine of the 2022-23 World Cup will be held in the capital, the first time the event has ever been hosted on Irish soil.
And with a star-studded list of riders confirmed for both the men’s and women’s elite races, we’re going to focus on the women’s elite race contenders.
THE COURSE
A special purpose-built course around the Sport Ireland campus will see riders pushed to their limits, including ramp sections as well as tight corners to ensure exciting racing.
At 3 kilometers long, spectators will have multiple opportunities to see the best riders in the world up close and personal as they compete for the win.
CONTENDERS
Fem Van Empel
Dutch riders have dominated this year’s Cyclo-cross World Cup, and none more so than Van Empel, the 20-year-old has won five of the eight rounds so far.
She tops the current rankings by some 95 points and returned to winning ways in Antwerp last week, spectators can expect to see her at the forefront of racing in Dublin.
Puck Pieterse
Another Dutch star, Pieterse has been on the podium in all six of her appearances in this season’s World Cup.
The 20-year-old was first over the line in rounds six and seven and was 34 seconds behind Van Empel in the last round – the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider will be hoping to be in the fight for the win this Sunday.
Denise Betsema
Puck Pieterse (left), Fem Van Empel (centre) and Shirin Van Anrooij (right) on the podium after the UCI Cyclocross World Cup Antwerp (Picture: UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup)
Another Dutch star, Denise Betsema has finished in the top five five times in the opening eight rounds of this season's UCI World Cup.
The 29-year-old is ranked fourth in the overall standings, but could jumop into the top three with a strong performance in Dublin.
Pauline Ferrand Prevot
The Ineos Grenadiers rider is perhaps one of the more high profile cycling stars to take the start line on Sunday, the 2015 world champion is competing in just her second UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup event of the season.
A multi-discipline world champion this year, the 30-year-old is the current gravel and mountain bike cross-country rainbow jersey and is sure to attract plenty of attention in the capital this weekend.
Maria Larkin
The Irish national champion has been selected to represent Ireland in the women’s elite race and will be hoping for a strong performance against the world’s best.
The 35-year-old is no stranger to the Cyclo-cross World Cup and has competed in select stages in recent seasons, including the opening two stages of this season’s edition hosted in the United States.
Roisin Lally
Roisin Lally will join Larkin in wearing green on Sunday as the 19-year-old competes in the Cyclo-cross World Cup for the second time after competing in the Overijse stage last month.
One of the top prospects in Irish cyclo-cross, Lally has been competitive in the National Trophy Series in the UK this season and finished in fourth place at Cross Clonmel in October.
A number of other Irish riders will compete in the race in their trade teams kit.
UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Dublin Provisional Startlists
UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Dublin Fan Guide