As the 2015 Elite Women's World Cyclocross Championship is practically open for the taking by a large number of racers, the folks here at Cyclocross Magazine won't be making any hard-and-fast predictions, but we will be highlighting ten favorites as well as some outside contenders. With the weather now verging on the likelihood of snow the day before the Elite Races, the fast course of Tabor will also provide a few areas that will likely cause some spills, especially if the notorious Czech ice comes into play.
Also, don't miss our Elite Men's Preview of Tabor.
Other Dark Horses to Look Out For:
Nikki Harris celebrated with a win at Spa-Francorchamps. © Bart Hazen
Lucie Chainel-Lefevre: The French rider captured two top fives in World Cups this year and followed it up with a string of top tens to follow. Pauline Ferrand Prevot might have stolen the attention of the French this season, but Chainel-Lefevre is not someone to ignore at the head of the race.
Nikki Harris: It would be unfair to say that Harris has taken a step back this season considering that she has innumerable amount of top-tens and has consistently ridden well all year. However, her 2013-14 season saw her on the podium almost every weekend, and she was easily one of the top favorites behind Vos. This year, the British rider will still have the opportunity to excel, especially if any possible run-ups become challenging with the weather, which is a course feature that plays to her strength.
Martina Mikulaskova: She is the Czech rider that many are overlooking, which is a shame considering that she is one of the top 20 riders in the UCI ranking. Along with Nash, Mikulaskova will be looking to represent her country well as they host this year’s championships.
Mical Dyck: Hoogerheide was the first World Cup race for this Stan’s NoTube rider. She will be the only female to represent Canada this year, and is likely looking to secure a respectable place for her country rather than aggressively fight with the leaders in the early goings.
Carolina Gomez Villafañe: We profiled the Argentinian rider last week. She is a familiar face in the American circuit, and will proudly be the first rider from her country to compete in the World Cyclocross Championship.
