The Dutch national cyclocross world championship team has been dealt a blow as Dennis Bessema and Annemarie Worst will miss this weekend's competition in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Worst, a runner-up at the last two World Championships, was forced to sit out after testing positive for COVID-19, while Bessema was forced to abandon her trip due to fever, despite testing negative for the virus.

Despite the absence of the two stars, the Dutch women's squad includes reigning world champion Lucinda Brand, who has 12 wins this season and leads the World Cup, Super Prestige, and X2O Trophy standings, as well as Saturday's Rainbow Band Many of the favorites to win include.

Seven-time World Champion Marianne Vos, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, Yara Castellane, Inge van der Heijden, and Manon Bakker will also compete, while Puck Peterse, Femme van Empel, and Shirin van Anlooy will be in the U23 women's field. will be competing.

"We had and still have a number of weapons for the elite girls," said national coach Gerben de Knegt. 'But Annemarie and Denise are among the medal contenders. But Annemarie and Denise were among the medal contenders.

Betsema has four wins this season, but has not tasted success since October; the 29-year-old is in second place behind Brand in the three major cyclocross events. Worst won the UCI World Cup in Koksijde in November and is third in the Superprestige and X2O Trophy standings.

The departures of Betsema and Worst are the latest blow to the world championships, which have seen a number of riders sidelined for various reasons.

Men's world champion Mathieu van der Pol will be sidelined due to a recurrence of a back injury that ended his season after just two races. In fact, the Dutch team is sending only two men, Lars van der Haar and Kone van Kessel, for financial reasons.

Wout Van Aert also gave up racing after finishing his season at the Belgian championships to concentrate on the road racing season. His compatriot Quinten Hermans was sidelined due to a positive test for COVID-19.

British rider Anna Kay missed the race due to a concussion, and Italy had half of its 12 riders absent due to testing positive for COVID-19, resulting in no close riders being able to travel. Switzerland, meanwhile, sent a team with zero female riders, as Jolanda Neff and Monique Holter were out for the season.