Colorful start line at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

The cyclo-cross course at Heusden-Zolder in Belgium is a world class circuit that starts and finishes on the race car track but mostly winds its way through the adjacent grassy and forested land. There are numerous short but steep climbs and descents with a few off-camber sections as well. With 80,000 expected spectators, moving around as a photographer will be extremely challenging but a worthwhile challenge. And if the expected rains materialize overnight as expected, the conditions will only get better.


Below are a variety of images from multiple areas of the course.

Cameron Beard (USA) during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

A Swiss rider skirts a muddy section during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

Lars van der Haar (NED) rails a descent during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

Logan Owen (USA) and Yannick Eckman (USA) dialing in one of the many turns during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

A German coach and his riders rolls through a wooded section during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

Sanne Cant (BEL) during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

A French rider on the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

Amanda Miller (USA) climbing during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • 2 Swiss riders ride towards the chapel on course during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • A Japanese rider during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

A USA rider during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • A group makes turns during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • Cameron Beard (USA) rides the inside of the 2 available lines through a turn during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • Winner of last weeks CX World Cup race in Hoogerhe Sophie de Boe seen during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • Stephen Hyde (USA) during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • Ellen Noble (USA) looks toward the next turn during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

Team Italia during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

Gage Hecht (USA) drills a sandy section during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

Gage Hecht (USA) drills a sandy section during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • Eli Iserbyt rides an off-camber section during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • This off-camber section could get very slick with some rain. Pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • An Italian rides the upper line of the off-camber section during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • An Italian rider takes the low line of the off-camber section during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • Alice Arzuffi (ITA) during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

One of the US riders fine tunes a turn during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

The man in the red jacket was a course marshall who tackled the rider who was pre-riding with the young Belgian racer who looks back in confusion.

One of the 2 flyovers ridden during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

Cameron Beard (USA) rides the inside of the 2 available lines through a turn during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

Ellen Noble (USA) powers up a small rise during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

Team Italia on a flyover during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

Belgian riders learning the lines with the help of their coach during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

A Slovakian rider leads the Spanish team on this steep ride-up which will be a run-up if promised rains materialize.

Pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • This muddy left-hand turn will surely play an important role on race day. Seen during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • Belgian mud seen during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • Steep and muddy during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • You must commit to the rut during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • A Belgian rider attacks the steep downhill during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • An Italian rider during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • Eva Lechner (ITA) during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

A French and Luxembourg rider on a steep run-up during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

The fastest line is in the rut here during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

The Belgian fans have a style all their own seen during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • Meredith Miller enjoying her final World Championship pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • Italian rider during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • Simon Andreasson (DEN) descends during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

  • Team Espana during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

Eva Lechner (ITA) scouting the course during the pre-ride at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala

Sign at the Cyclo-cross World Championships on January 29, 2016 in Zolder, Belgium. Photo: Matthew Lasala