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Mathieu van der Poel will be looking to defend his Cyclocross World Championships title on a fast course in Heusden-Zolder
Reigning champion Mathieu van der Poel is the man to beat in the Cyclocross World Championships in Heusden-Zolder, having dominated the World Cup circuit this season.
The Dutchman, grandson of road Grand Tour winner Raymond Poulidor, has won the last four World Cup events, including the race on the World Championships course in December.
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Wout van Aert, dominant on the Belgian Superprestige tour this winter, and Sven Nys, the retiring two time world champion, will be hot on van der Poel's heels in a strong men's field in the Netherlands.
Great Britain will field a four-man squad in Zolder, comprised of Ian Field, Liam Killeen, David Fletcher and Jack Clarkson.
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Killeen enters the race as British champion, having taken the title in Shrewsbury on January 10, while Field - a four-time national champion himself - is a World Championships veteran.
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Fletcher finished second behind Field in this winter's National Trophy series, while first-year elite rider Clarkson took bronze in the Nationals behind Killeen and Field.
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Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.