Not Mathieu van der Poel or Wout van Aert, will cyclocross see a different winner this year?

The anticipation surrounding the cyclocross season has been mounting for some time now. Mathieu van der Poel, a six-time cyclocross world champion, dominated last year, winning thirteen out of the fourteen races he competed in. Even in the races where the Dutchman was absent, the usual contenders were often seen battling for victory. Much like Tadej Pogacar’s dominance on the road in 2024, both van der Poel and Wout van Aert have been miles ahead of their competition in cyclocross for a while.

However, it now appears that a new generation of riders is emerging, ready to compete for top honours.

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On Sunday, 23-year-old Joran Wyseure claimed his first-ever professional victory at the Superprestige Ruddervoorde, defeating seasoned rider Michael Vanthourenhout, who finished third. Despite the loss, Vanthourenhout remained optimistic.

“It’s really cool that other guys are joining us. It makes the cross exciting and beautiful,” said the 30-year-old to Het Nieuwsblad. Behind Wyseure, Niels Vandeputte secured second place. “We already knew about Niels. He's been riding super strong all season long. Joran is a man to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.”

Wyseure also acknowledged the progress made by other riders in the field. “A lot of guys have been able to take a big step this year. We are going to have a nice, exciting winter,” predicted the young Belgian. Vandeputte, another name to watch, is also targeting victories, though he admits he’s not yet at his peak form.

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“I can't complain, because I am actually really working towards the beginning of November. Last weekend I was already surprised with that third place in Beringen and now I come second twice. I wouldn’t have dared to predict that,” explained the 24-year-old Belgian.

The question arises, when will someone finally break van der Poel and van Aert’s stronghold on the cross season?