Start Lists: 19 Americans, 4 Canadians, 4 Australians, 20 British Riders Set to Storm the Citadel of Namur on Sunday

The next two-race block of the 2017/18 Telenet UCI World Cup includes two of the sport’s iconic venues. On Sunday, riders will storm the Citadel of Namur and then the day after Christmas, they head to the grounds of the famed Circuit Zolder racetrack in Heusden-Zolder.

Namur was first held in 2009 and became a part of the World Cup series in 2011, but it has already established itself as one of the sport’s top races thanks to its setting on the hills surrounding the Citadel of Namur and its challenging descents and climbs that have a mountain-bike feel.

The rutted off-camber is one of the most memorable sections at Namur. 2016 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Namur. Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Both Elite races at Namur in 2016 were pretty darn good. Katerina Nash (Clif Pro Team) topped Sophie de Boer (Parkhotel Valkenburg – Destil Cycling Team) in a thrilling last-lap battle.

World Cup leader Sophie de Boer and Katerina Nash battle for the best line at the 2016 Namur UCI Cyclocross World Cup – Elite Women. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Mathieu van der Poel (Beobank-Corendon) outdueled Wout van Aert (Crelan-Charles) in the bell lap back when the “Beautiful Duels” were more frequent.

Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert engaged in a last-lap battle in 2016. 2016 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Namur. Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Replays of both races are worth checking out if you need some trainer or idle time viewing material. Make sure to turn the sound up on the Women’s race for the commentary of Helen Wyman.

If you are looking for some added excitement for the racing, Namur is still seeking its first three-time champion. Nash won in 2016 and 2014, Katie Compton (KFC Racing p/b Trek/Knight Composites) in 2012 and 2013, Van der Poel in 2015 and 2016 and Kevin Pauwels (Marlux-Napoleon Games) in 2012 and 2014.

Start lists for all races are below. There are a total of 19 Americans. 20 British, 4 Australian and 3 Canadian riders spread across the 4 races.

Namur is part of the EuroCrossCamp December block, so a number of young American riders will be racing. The Junior Men’s race will feature Lane Maher (HotTubes), Sam Noel (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com Devo), Greg Gunsalus (AP Junior Devo p/b Corner Cycle), Torin Bickmore (Boulder Junior Cycling) and Dillon McNeill (Trek Cyclocross Collective). Conor Martin (Garneau-Easton p/b Transitions LifeCare) will be racing for Team Canada.

Lane Maher will be in Namur again in 2017. 2016 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Junior Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

The U23 Men’s contingent includes Gage Hecht (Alpha Bicycle – Groove Subaru), Spencer Petrov (Aspire Racing) and Cooper Willsey (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com). Tom Pidcock (Telenet Fidea Lions) leads the British team that also includes Ben Turner (Beobank-Corendon) and Dan Tulett.

Cooper Willsey also raced at Namur in 2016. He will be back again in 2017. 2016 Namur Cyclocross World Cup, U23 Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

The Women’s start list suggests another great race is in order. Nineteen of the top twenty women in the UCI rankings are on the start list. They are joined by Sunday’s winner Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Canyon SRAM) and defending mountain bike World Champion Yolanda Neff (Kross Racing Team), among others.

A couple names worth watching in the Men’s race include 2013 Namur winner Francis Mourey, who has mostly been racing the EKZ and French national series, and three-time podium finisher Klaas Vantornout (Marlux-Napoleon Games), who will be storming the Citadel of Namur for the last time.

Women's Start List: 2017 Namur World Cup

Men's Start List: 2017 Namur World Cup

U23 Men's Start List: 2017 Namur World Cup

Junior Men's Start List: 2017 Namur World Cup