Date | January 30-February 1, 2026 |
Location | Hulst, the Netherlands |
Category | Major Championships |
Previous winners | Mathieu van der Poel, Fem van Empel |
2026 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships Information
The UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships heads to the Netherlands in 2026 with the battle on reigning men's champion Mathieu van der Poel's home turf in Hulst.
The seven-time elite champion will be without rival Wout van Aert (Belgium) in the event as the Visma-Lease a Bike rider suffered a fracture after a crash in the Zilvermeercross in Mol on January 2 and had to have surgery.
The top competitors to Van der Poel include Thibau Nys, who was third in 2025, Michael Vanthourenhout, Toon Aerts, Emiel Verstrynge (Crelan-Corendon) and Laurens Sweeck.
Elite women's winner in 2025 Fem Van Empel is taking a lighter approach to cyclo-cross this year, so it is uncertain whether she will target Worlds. Instead, her compatriot Lucinda Brand (Baloise Lions) has been the most dominant rider of the season.
The top five riders in the UCI rankings all hail from the Netherlands, with Inge van der Heijden and Aniek van Alphen having great seasons. Puck Pieterse, racing a reduced schedule, is the most likely rider to challenge Brand, while French rider Amandine Fouquenet is another strong rival.
2026 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships Route
2026 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships Schedule
Date | Event | Time |
|---|---|---|
January 30 | Team relay | 13:30-14:30 CET |
January 31 | Junior women | 11:00 CET |
January 31 | U23 men | 13:00 CET |
January 31 | Elite women | 15:00 CET |
February 1 | Junior men | 11:00 CET |
February 1 | U23 women | 13:00 CET |
February 1 | Elite men | 15:00 CET |
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UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships30 January 2026 - 1 February 2026 | Hulst | CM
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Marion Norbert Riberolle disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct after a crash in elite women's race at UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships
Belgian champion strikes Czechia champion after the two collide on second half of race, then Norbert Riberolle later taken to hospital -
'Mad at myself' for crashing in elite women's Cyclo-cross Worlds race, Brand stays calm to hold off Dutch rival for second title
World Cup leader finds strength this winter after personal tragedy, 'I'm not really distraught from the things that happen around me' -
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23-year-old rounds out 'cross season strongly as part of Dutch podium sweep on home ground in Hulst
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Thibau Nys departs team hotel to avoid sickness that caused four Belgian teammates to withdraw from Cyclo-cross World Championships on Saturday
Kay De Bruyckere misses U23 men's race in Hulst as Belgian rider at hospital with severe illness -
'If he went any faster on that course, he'd start knocking the poles out of the ground' - Wout van Aert hails leading Cyclo-cross World Championships favourite Mathieu van der Poel
Belgian rates Van der Poel as 'Without a doubt, the best cyclo-cross rider ever.' -
A dream comeback: Shirin van Anrooij shines at home Cyclo-cross World Championships opener after last year's iliac artery nightmare
'I hope I'll have these legs again tomorrow' says the 23-year-old as the battle for another rainbow jersey continues with the elite women's race in Hulst
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'A challenge and a completely different type of race' – Zoe Bäckstedt ready for elite Cyclo-cross Worlds debut after reduced winter campaign
Briton heads to Hulst off back of best-ever World Cup showing with fourth place in Hoogerheide, opting for elite race over U23 title defense -
'Pretty much unbeatable' – Have Belgium already conceded defeat to Mathieu van der Poel at the Cyclo-cross World Championships?
'Second and third place are also very important for us' says national coach De Clercq -
'Every now and then, you have to consider other options' – Mathieu van der Poel non-commital on potential cyclo-cross retirement ahead of bid for record-breaking eighth world title
'I'm certainly not going to Hulst feeling like I've already won. Anything can happen at a World Championships'
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Quiz! Can you name all the cyclo-cross world champions since 2000?
15 minutes to name as many CX rainbow jersey winners as possible -
Lucinda Brand is one of the most consistent cyclo-cross riders of the last decade – so why does she only have one world title to her name?
Dutch rider has had yet another fantastic winter, but still isn't quite the top favourite for the weekend's World Championships -
Tubulars rule in cyclo-cross, but are tubeless tyres going to make them extinct in the next few years? Here's what two pro mechanics think
Two professional mechanics share the ins and outs of tubular and tubeless tyres ahead of the Cyclo-cross World Championships
