Yara Kastelijn, the 26-year-old Dutch cyclist, has confirmed her participation in a select number of cyclocross races this winter, including the Dutch National Championships in Hoogeveen. Her team, Fenix-Deceuninck, shared this information with WielerFlits.
Following a trend from last winter, Kastelijn has opted for a relatively limited cyclocross schedule, focusing primarily on road cycling where she achieved significant success last year, including an impressive solo victory in a stage of the Tour de France Femmes.
Despite her road success, Kastelijn, the 2019 European cyclocross champion, will return to her roots in cyclocross. Her season will kick off at the Superprestigecross in Heusden-Zolder on 27 December, followed by appearances in Diegem, Koksijde (subject to confirmation), Gullegem, and culminating in the Dutch National Championships in Hoogeveen and a standalone race in Otegem.
After these events, Kastelijn’s focus will shift back to the road, preparing for the training camp and road programme with Fenix-Deceuninck. Her last victory in cyclocross dates back to 18 September 2021 in Beringen, where she outraced Shirin van Anrooij, Denise Betsema, and Fem van Empel.
Kastelijn’s cyclocross race schedule is as follows:
27 December: Telenet Superprestige Heusden-Zolder
28 December: Telenet Superprestige Diegem
4 January: X²O Bathrooms Trophy Flemish Duinencross Koksijde
6 January: Hexia Cyclocross Gullegem
14 January: National Cyclocross Championships 2024
15 January: Cyclocross Otegem
