There is a chill in the air, the smell of frites, the tang of spilled beer, the rustle of winter coats and the slosh of rubber boots in mud: Why are thousands of Belgians standing in the cold and rain? It's cyclocross season, of course!
Cyclocross is still as popular as ever around the world despite a challenge from the growing gravel racing scene, and it wouldn't be winter if we weren't tracking when Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel might be starting their off-road season.
Cyclocross racing got an early start in the United States and Great Britain, and the Superprestige, X2O Trofee and Exact Cross series are already underway in Belgium.
The first World Cup round will not take place until the series opener in Tábor on November 23.
There are a total of 12 races in the UCI Cyclocross World Cup 2025-2026, one each week until the intense 'kerstperiode' around Christmas, which includes four World Cups in nine days, along with other races.
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Cyclocross Riders to Watch
World Champion Fem van Empel won her 50th race in Heerde in October (Image credit: Shutterstock)
Across the pond, Maghalie Rochette has dominated the Trek USCX series, winning seven of the eight races so far. Lizzy Gunsalus has five wins to her name in the non-series races.
Keep an eye out for the return of Puck Pieterse, who will start her 'cross season in Namur on December 15, and the return of Shirin van Anrooij from iliac artery endofibrosis surgery. She will also likely begin in December.
Aside from waiting for Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert to return to the mud, the men to watch include, Michael Vanthourenhout, who claimed back-to-back wins in the Superprestige to lead that series. Thibau Nys won the X2O Trofee opener, the Koppenbergcross, but was plagued by crashes and mechanicals the next day but has high aspirations for defending his European title. Dutchman Joris Nieuwenhuis, who won the Rapencross, is another rider with immense talent in the dirt.
In the States, Andrew Strohmeyer and Eric Brunner have traded blows in the Trek USCX series, each taking four wins.
In Great Britain, Thomas Mein has dominated the National Trophy series and won two of the four Hope Supercross races.
Belgians continue to hold the top spots in the UCI Rankings, with Vanthourenhout in the lead, followed by Toon Aerts, and Eli Iserbyt - although the Belgian has had multiple surgeries for a problem with his femoral artery and will not be in action until later in the season. Niels Vandeputte, Laurens Sweeck and Nys are also riders to watch.
Keep an eye on Spaniard Felipe Orts, winner of the Nacht van Woerden, Pim Ronhaar, Joran Wyseure and Tibor del Grosso.
Lars van der Haar will be retiring after a successful career at the end of the season, but will still be one to watch at the pointy end of the races.
Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert race reduced schedules in cyclocross (Image credit: Getty Images)
Schedules
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UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Continental and World Championships
Laura Weislo is a Cyclingnews veteran of 20 years. Having joined in 2006, Laura extensively covered the Operacion Puerto doping scandal, the years-long conflict between the UCI and the Tour de France organisers ASO over the creation of the WorldTour, and the downfall of Lance Armstrong and his lifetime ban for doping. As Managing Editor, Laura coordinates coverage for North American events and global news.
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