Koksijde or Duinencross is arguably the most famous cyclocross race in the world. It is a monument of the sport that every top rider dreams of winning. The event started in 1969, with Roger De Vlaeminck, the four-time winner of Paris-Roubaix, the first winner. The sand dunes at Koksijde have hosted the Cyclocross World Championship race twice.
The 2015 Koksijde World Cup race was destined to be a classic from the moment Sven Nys crossed the finish line first at the Soudal Classics GP Hasselt race, the day before. After struggling throughout the season and becoming visibly frustrated during races, the return of Sven to the top step added a whole new dimension to the Koksijde race. That he was trying to win his 50th World Cup race, at the age of 39, at Duinencross where he had won six previous times, meant expectations were sky high.
But to give the throngs of Sven fans who showed up what they wanted, the “people’s champ” as Sporza Michel Wuyts calls him, would have to figure out how to beat the two dominant riders in the sport. First and foremost is Wout van Aert who is unarguably the class of the 2015-2016 cyclocross season. Van Aert has raced 18 times this season and won 13. The other five races? He came in second. Van Aert is also last year’s winner at Koksijde. As if that wasn’t enough competition, Koksijde would also be the first race of the season for Mathieu van der Poel, the current World Champion. Before van Aert’s dominant run, it was Mathieu and Wout going head to head in virtually every race, the last half of the 2014-2015 season.
SVENNESS 4.2 covers the Koksijde World Cup race. Sand and mud, power and momentum. Those are the keys to this race and to victory. Will Wout continue his dominance? Will Mathieu return to the scene triumphantly? Will Sven get his 50th? Or will there be a spoiler from the field of other favorites like Lars van der Haar or Kevin Pauwels?
One way to find out …
Thanks for watching.
Video footage for SVENNESS 4.2 is via Sporza.
Music
Talking with Strangers~Miya Folick
Well worth the wait!
Amazing. Thanks for taking the time to do this, Bill!!!!! We’re all grateful.
These videos are simply OUTSTANDING! Thank you for taking the time and sharing the expertise! Really fn awesome.
great watch
Wow! What an episode! That was incredible!
I haven’t even pressed play yet, but Thank You!
That sound track though…supreme.
Excellent stuff. Thanks for posting. Spotted a GPON too on last lap about 20. 40 in.
Even if it had only been the opening sequence, this video was worth the wait. He’s back!!!!!
Superb, excellent work once again!! Your passion and love for the sport is what puts these videos on a whole different level!
Cheese and rice!!! that was some serious sand flyin’, drool hangin’, mud coverin’, breath freezin’, power droppin’, insane crossin’ madness!!! Thanks for making these videos. You’ve made something that is the best at what it is which is so awesome.
Starting to watch in 3-2-1 . So happy 😉
that was great, need a second one showing MVdP’s ride, for a kid who has had his problems this fall he did a pretty amazing ride himself, to come back for your first race from recent injury his would have been the story if Nys had not won. Loved this one though all the great themes young vs old, different styles and both riders never believing they could lose. Thanks.
Great stuff! That’s what ‘cross is all about!
nothing short of art…
the soundtrack is always spot on…
the text commentary draws the viewer in…
even a non-cyclist would be riveted to the screen of this or any of your cyclocross films
classic… great contribution to the sport\culture
Nicely done Bill! Really fine editing.
that was out of this world!
Can you get some PJ Harvey on the next Svenness?
Pure goose bumps. A chilling recount of the years best race. Great job as usual Bill. This one is sure to be legendary.
THANK YOU – such excellence overall from writing to music/edits. So enjoyable. Happy Holidays.
Damn that was amazing! Thank you, Bill!
These are fucking A good…
Thank you so much. So worth the wait. I watched this race streaming live and it was one of the most exciting I’ve ever seen. I always watch the Sporza broadcast with Michel Wuyts and he was clearly loving it. More Svenness please?
WOAAAAAAAAAAA! You absolutely nailed it. Bill you are the true peoples champ in CX 🙂
Whoa, we all just watched that in stunned amazement!!! Outstanding race and even better coverage!
Genius. I’m in Zone 2 just sitting and watching this. Thank you for this and everything you do including the podcast!