Watch The DVV Series On FloBikes

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On Friday morning, the best male and female cyclocross racers in the world will toe the start line at the foot of the iconic Koppenberg for the start of the DVV Trofee Series. Held in Oudenaarde, Belgium, the Koppenbergcross race will serve as the first round in the eight-race DVV Verzekeringen Trofee series. Unlike many points-based series, the DVV series is based on overall time, making a course as demanding as the Koppenbergcross a crucial event in the series.

Here's what you need to know:

1. The Clock Is All Powerful: Racers are ranked according to their finish time in each of the eight races in the series. The lowest cumulative time wins. If there’s a tie on overall time, the racer’s overall placing are taken into account. If the overall placing is tied, then the placing in the final race of the series decides the winner. 

2. Every Race Matters: If a racer fails to start, fails to finish, or is pulled from a race, they’re given a five-minute time penalty in the overall series. For example, elite women’s world champion Sanne Cant pulled out of the first race of the DVV series with an illness, and is now effectively out of contention for the overall title.

3. Pay Attention To Time Bonuses: At a sprint point one lap into the men’s and women’s elite races, time bonuses are awarded to the first three riders. The time bonuses are worth 15 seconds, 10 seconds, and five seconds. These time bonuses can prove to be very decisive in the overall series.

5. It's A Team Event: There’s a 5,000 Euro prize for the top team in the DVV series. The team with the top three racers in combined overall time — comprised of two men and one woman — is deemed the winner of the DVV team trophy.

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