Cyclocross riders Lars van der Haar and Lucinda Brand lead the Dutch delegation at the start of the World Cup in the United States. The season begins on Sunday in Waterloo, a week after the start of the race for the World Cup in Fayetteville.
Van der Haar and Brand are the European champions. Brand (33) also won the World Cup last season, which was dominated by Dutch cyclocross riders. Van der Haar (31) was the best Dutchman in fifth place behind four Belgians.
National coach Gerben de Knigt will travel to the United States with three men and nine women. “Fem van Empel and Lucinda Brand both started the season with wins and hope to continue this trend,” says De Knegt. “The battle with the Canadian and American riders once again gives a more complete picture of the pedigree at the top. Not everyone has chosen to include these two World Cups in their program, but we have a strong block up front that can compete for victories.”
Van der Haar drives only in Waterloo. Number 2 in the World Cup skips the match in Fayetteville. The World Championships was held at that American venue last season.
The World Cup consists of fourteen matches, two of which are in the Netherlands: on November 13 in Bixe-Bergen and on November 27 in Holst. The cross in Rucphen was recently canceled due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
