Is this the year Belgian hegemony in the men's event gets challenged?
For this season.. I don't think so
yet
Van Der Haar is of the one guy every Belgian was already a couple of years aware of that he would be the biggest upcoming competitor, but I don't see him this year - on a consistent base - beating us. Last Sunday (which he superbly won), he was having a "home advantage" but more improtantly it was a quick race with lot's of short ramps... ideal for a lightweight like him and Pauwels.
Can't see him winning on other types of circuits or in other circumstances (muddy, superwet, snow)... but again he is the biggest upcoming talent, will/should be a top 5 threat every time and you need to get rid of him before the sprint, since he is lightning quick.
I am actual more "surprised" (and pretty happy) to see even more "foreign" threats popping up:
- Bina (a big talent, many years ago when he was young) was great in Ronse, so maybe he has finally found what is needed to live up to his earlier expectations.
- Walsleben is looking very good this year and has finally shaken off all the injuries/infections that have bugged him the last 3 years (for me, he might this year be even more consistantly in the top-5 than Van Der Haar, if he continues what he has shown so far)
These 2, together with Van Der Haar, have most chance to nick a race here and there away from the Belgians
- Taramarcaz showed promises last year, but seems to be still looking for form this season, hopefully he can
- Van Amerongen and Maisen could be top-5 here and there as well
- And of course Matthieu Van Der Poel is getting everybody fidging in their seats (he absolutely should be able to overthrow the Belgian domination) although I can't see the road teams not pulling his arm in the future
That being said... for me this year Nys is still looking like the one to beat (on almost all types of track).
Pauwels (like Nys also had bad luck this weekend) should still be the favourite on the faster tracks
Van Tornout should be the (co-)favourite on the muddier tracks
Meeusen - free from last year's doping allegations - will be the one to look out for on frozen tracks
And Albert should still be the "next Nys" (although he is less technical, he is nevertheless the most all-round of the rest and is - like Nys - superstrong on sand), but he seems to be - for a mysterious reason - not in great form... but I can't see him not getting better as the season moves on.