The road season is drawing to a close, and that can only mean one thing — it’s cyclocross time. The stars of the mud are gearing up for a 2025/26 campaign packed with iconic races: World Cups, the European Championships, the World Championships… Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, Thibau Nys and many more are ready to chase new goals in one of cycling’s most beautiful disciplines.
The first major highlight of the season will be the European Championships, taking place on 8–9 November. In 2024, Thibau Nys took victory and the European title.
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The season will then reach its climax between 30 January and 1 February, when the World Championships are held. There, Mathieu van der Poel will be chasing a record-breaking eighth rainbow jersey, which would see him surpass Erik De Vlaeminck as the most successful male rider in the history of the sport.
Mathieu van der Poel: Chasing History
For Mathieu van der Poel, this winter isn’t just about defending his title — it’s about standing alone as the most successful male cyclocross rider of all time.
The Dutchman has been resting from the road since August, after a superb spring and summer that included victories at Milano–Sanremo, Paris–Roubaix, the E3 Saxo Classic and a Tour de France stage. That recovery time could make him even more formidable in the mud.
Thibau Nys and Tibor Del Grosso: The Next Generation
If anyone still doubted Thibau Nys’s credentials beyond his famous surname, last season dispelled them. The Belgian enjoyed a breakout campaign, winning both the Belgian and European Championships and taking bronze at the Worlds behind Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. He’ll be aiming to build on that this winter after a road season that started well but faded over time.
Meanwhile, Tibor Del Grosso confirmed his status as a top prospect by defending his U23 world title at just 21 years old. Fast, technically superb and consistent, the Dutchman looks ready to challenge the very best in the elite ranks sooner rather than later.
Cyclocross 2025/26: Full Race Calendar
September 2025
- 14.09 – Kleeberg Cyclocross
October 2025
- 04.10 – Berencross Meulebeke (Exact Cross)
- 16.10 – Kermiscross Ardooie
- 18.10 – Robotland Cyclocross Essen (Exact Cross)
- 19.10 – Ruddervoorde (Superprestige)
- 19.10 – GP Oisterwijk
- 21.10 – Nacht van Woerden
- 25.10 – Cyclocross Heerderstrand (Exact Cross)
- 26.10 – Vlaamse Druivencross Overijse (Superprestige)
November 2025
- 01.11 – Koppenbergcross Oudenaarde (X²O Badkamers Trofee)
- 02.11 – Rapencross Lokeren (X²O Badkamers Trofee)
- 08–09.11 – European Championships, Middelkerke/Lombardsijde
- 11.11 – Jaarmarktcross Niel (Superprestige)
- 15.11 – Aardbeiencross Merksplas (Superprestige)
- 16.11 – Flandriencross Hamme (X²O Badkamers Trofee)
- 16.11 – VAM-Berg Cyclocross (Individual race)
- 23.11 – UCI World Cup Tábor
- 30.11 – UCI World Cup Flamanville
December 2025
- 07.12 – Cabras, Sardinia (World Cup)
- 13.12 – Leiecross/Urban Cross Kortrijk (Exact Cross)
- 14.12 – Namur (World Cup)
- 20.12 – Antwerpen Scheldecross (World Cup)
- 21.12 – Vlaamse Duinencross Koksijde (World Cup)
- 22.12 – Plage Cross Hofstade (X²O Badkamers Trofee)
- 23.12 – Heusden-Zolder (Superprestige)
- 26.12 – Asper-Gavere (World Cup)
- 28.12 – Dendermonde (World Cup)
- 29.12 – Loenhout Azencross (X²O Badkamers Trofee)
- 30.12 – Diegem (Superprestige)
January 2026
- 01.01 – GP Sven Nys Baal (X²O Badkamers Trofee)
- 02.01 – Zilvermeercross Mol (Exact Cross)
- 03.01 – Cyclocross Gullegem (Superprestige)
- 04.01 – Zonhoven (World Cup)
- 10–11.01 – Belgian Championships, Beringen
- 12.01 – Otegem
- 18.01 – UCI World Cup Benidorm
- 24.01 – UCI World Cup Maasmechelen
- 25.01 – GP Adrie van der Poel Hoogerheide (World Cup)
- 30.01–01.02 – UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships Hulst
February 2026
- 04.02 – Parkcross Maldegem (Exact Cross)
- 07.02 – Noordzeecross Middelkerke (Superprestige)
- 08.02 – Krawatencross Lille (X²O Badkamers Trofee)
- 14.02 – Waaslandcross Sint-Niklaas (Exact Cross)
- 15.02 – Brussels Universities Cyclocross (X²O Badkamers Trofee)
- 22.02 – Sluitingsprijs Oostmalle (World Cup)
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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