The UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup – Benidorm Costa Blanca 2023 is going to be a blast
It's three days to go for the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup – Benidorm Costa Blanca 2023 and the event is already sold out. 10.000 people have bought their ticket to feel the thrill of the world's finest CX. There will be another 300 tickets on sale at the venue, right before the start of the event. The ticket office will open at 8.30AM and will be located right besides the general access, at Parque de Foietes.
Here comes the 'Big Three'!
One of the most awaited men in Benidorm, Mathieu Van der Poel, turns 28 this Thursday. He has become a true reference not only in the winter circuits, but also on the road and in mountain bike. His epic duels with Wout van Aert are already part of the history of our sport and the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup – Benidorm Costa Blanca 2023 will undoubtedly showcase some unfogettable moments. Along with them will contend Tom Pidcock, who has joined the Belgian and de Dutch in recent years completing the 'Big Three' of cyclocross in our days. This will be the last race in the rainbow jersey for the reigning World Champion.
But the fight among the ‘Big Three’ will be just one of the many attractions of a UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup – Benidorm Costa Blanca 2023 that could well determine the overall winner of this tournament. To pull off this victory, Laurens Sweeck oughts to obtain, at least, 16 more points than his only rival, Michael Vanthourenhout.
Alongside all of them, the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup – Benidorm Costa Blanca 2023 will feature one of the best starting grids of the entire season. The top10 of the UCI ranking will meet next Sunday in the parks of Foietes and El Moralet. So, in addition to those already mentioned, fans will enjoy the likes of Lars van der Haar, Eli Iserbyt, Niels Vandeputte, Jens Adams or Kevin Kuhn.
And, of course, the man of the hour in Benidorm will be it's very own Felipe Orts. The best Spanish crosser of all time will live the extraordinary experience of competing in a top-level race just 20 kilometers from his home in La Vila Joiosa. Orts has set his sights on this event for the whole season. Every local fan dreams of seeing him achieve a landmark result.
First-ever UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup women race in Spain
Marianne Vos, the great living legend in women's cycling, will be on the starting grid of the Elite Women race of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup – Benidorm Costa Blanca 2023. The current world chamipon will contend with the best two female crossers of the current season: Fem van Empel and Puck Pieterse.
After an eleven-year absence, the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup – Benidorm Costa Blanca 2023 marks the return of the World Cup to Spain. The last time it visited the country, there were still no women's races in the tournament, so the Benidorm event will be the debut of women in the UCI tournament while on Spanish soil.
The best part of the women's world top 10 will also be present in Benidorm, with stars such as Lucinda Brand, Shirin van Anrooij, Inge van der Heijden, Manon Bakker, Annemarie Worst, Aniek van Alphen, Silvia Persico, Marion Norbert Riberolle or Kata Blanka Vas. Current national champion Lucía González will lead the charge for Spanish riders. She sits 16 in the UCI World Ranking and has collected nine victories this season.
Benidorm, cycling destination
All this will happen in Benidorm, one of the great tourist destinations in Europe, known worldwide for its good weather and its impressive beaches… but also an ideal city for bicycle lovers. With more than 130 kilometers of bike lanes, the city hosts every year several winter training camps of the world's biggest cycling teams. It has also hosted some of the most important events on the calendar such as the UCI Road World Championships, the Vuelta a España… and now, the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup.
