The 2015/2016 cyclo-cross season officially started in the United Stated with Cross Vegas two weeks ago. For Team Giant-Alpecin’s Lars van der Haar (NED), the European season gets underway this weekend with the Superprestige in Gieten, the Netherlands.

"I hope to take another step forward in my development as a CX rider this season," said van der Haar. "In general, my season goals are to perform well at the World Cup and Superprestige races. On top of that I will be aiming to reach top form at the world championships in Zolder, Belgium, and to go for a good result there."

Coach Dirk Reuling added: "The main target for Lars will be the world championships in Zolder. The course suits him very well, as it will be same as the Zolder World Cup race, where he has won a couple of times already. For his season in general we will aim for podium finishes in both the World Cup and the Superprestige classifications. There are a lot of races, and we have decided to focus on those two classifications. The World Cup is obviously the most important, and the Superprestige races suit him well. 

"Last year Lars made a step up to ride with the best cyclo-crossers in the world, and we are now seeing other talents rising too, so the top is becoming broader. This season we hope to confirm that Lars consistently belongs among the world’s top racers and take whatever opportunities come in races that suit him, such as the World Cup race in Valkenburg, for example."

DATE - RACE
04/10/2015 - Gieten, the Netherlands
11/10/2015 - Ronsse, Belgium
18/10/2015 - Valkenburg, the Netherlands
20/10/2015 - Woerden, the Netherlands
25/10/2015 - Zonhoven, Belgium
31/10/2015 - Boom, Belgium
01/11/2015 - Oudenaarde, Belgium
07/11/2015 - European Championships: Huijbergen, the Netherlands
08/11/2015 - Ruddervoorde, the Netherlands
15/11/2015 - Asper Gavere, Belgium
22/11/2015 - Koksijde, Belgium
29/11/2015 - Hame Zogge, Belgium
12/12/2015 - Mol, Belgium
13/12/2015 - Spa Francorschamps, Belgium
19/12/2015 - Antwerpen, Belgium
20/12/2015 - Namur, Belgium
26/12/2015 - Heusden Zolder, Belgium
27/12/2015 - Diegem, Belgium
01/01/2016 - Baal, Belgium
10/01/2016 - National Championships: Hellendoorn, the Netherlands
17/01/2016 - Bourges, France
23/01/2016 - Rucphen, the Netherlands
24/01/2016 - Hoogerheide, the Netherlands
31/01/2016 - World Championships: Zolder, Belgium
03/02/2016 - Maldegem, Belgium
06/02/2016 - St Niklaas, Belgium
07/02/2016 - Hoogstraten, Belgium
13/02/2016 - Middelkerke, Belgium
14/02/2016 - Heerlen, the Netherlands
21/02/2016 - Oostmalle, Belgium
24/02/2016 - Waregem, Belgium