FIRST PUBLISHED JANUARY, 2016

DEFENDING champion Mathieu van der Poel will not be the only Dutch former winner taking the start line in Zolder on Sunday after Lars Boom's selection was confirmed today (January 25th).

"Lars has been selected on his past performances in cyclocross," Dutch team manager Johan Lammerts told the press. "He is a former world champion in all three age-groups and despite his unstartling races in December, I would like him to have this opportunity."

Boom, who has just finished the Tour Down Under, told De Telegraaf, "Basically, the condition is very good and if my back remains OK, I hope that on Sunday my cyclocross form will have gone in the right direction."

Watch Boom's 2008 Worlds victory below.

Meet the rainbow jersey

A nice little Shimano promo featuring, and talking to, World Champion Mathieu van der Poel who is shown training in the woods with some of his teammates including brother David and Sanne Cant.

Worlds: How many Dutch gold medals in Zolder?

At the final World Cup round in Hoogerheide on Sunday the Dutch won three out the four races with Mathieu van der Poel, Sophie de Boer and Jens Dekker, so will they eclipse their Belgian neighbours in Zolder this weekend?

To illustrate that the Dutch are definitely no strangers to Worlds success, on the start list for Sunday they should have two elite men who have won the title before - the winner of the 2008 World title race (here) Lars Boom has been selected by The Netherlands. Astana pro Boom took the World elite title one season after winning the Under-23 title and the junior title in 2003.

When races still went through the beer tent...

Watch Sven Nys, Bart Wellens and Sven Vanthourenhout in their prime here on an incredibly fast Ruddervoorde course. It's the beginning of the 2003-04 season which Cyclocrossrider editor Konrad Manning also recalls being very dry as he completed his first UK Three Peaks race that September in equally fast conditions.

Wellens (here in the rainbow jersey) retired from the sport last season and the two Svens are about to bow out next month so sit back and enjoy the 'old guard' were they were at their youthful peak.

...by New Year it was snowing

In contrast to Ruddervoorde here is the GP Sven Nys in Baal on New Year's Day 2004 in the very same season. Cyclocross requires riders to have a wide skill set as these two extremes in conditions illustrate.

Jan the man

We know that Crelan-Vastgoedservice's Jan Denuwelaere is a fan of Cyclocrossrider so here's a fun film the mud master has made. Last season ex-motocross racer Jan won the Belgian 'without-contract' national jersey in Erpe-Mere and finished second behind teammate Joeri Adams this year.

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