
The UCI World Cyclo-cross Championships kick off on Friday, and across the categories, riders will be battling for the chance to win a rainbow jersey. Mathieu van der Poel is the hot favourite as he aims to take a record-breaking eighth world title. The elite women's race is a little more open, but Van der Poel's compatriots Puck Pieterse and Lucinda Brand should also be at the front of the action.
Cyclo-cross is a unique discipline, and one where the right equipment choice is crucial; this, of course, includes tyres which are limited in size to 33mm by the UCI.