"We want to host the best and most beautiful World Championships": Over 35,000 spectators expected to cheer on Van der Poel in Hulst

The cyclocross World Championships in Hulst have lost some of its spark. Without injured Wout Van Aert, the main event, elite men's race seems to have a known winner already far in advance with the seven-time world champion Mathieu van der Poel seemingly out of anyone's reach again this winter. But the race organizers don't mourn this turn of events too much as there are still several exciting races set to unfold and a great atmosphere seems guaranteed!

Anyone who has attended the Vestingscross in Hulst in recent years knows that the course can feel very crowded at times. "But addressing that was our top priority. We've made the course completely World Championships-worthy," assures co-organizer Bram De Brauwer when speaking to WielerFlits. "In 2023, we had around 22,000 spectators for the World Cup. Back then, people were completely stuck in the finish line because it was so crowded."

"We then considered improving the flow of traffic. We're doing this with a much longer course, with seven pontoons and five bridges. That will make it much more pleasant for people. It's a course we haven't seen very often and one that won't be seen often at a World Championship in the coming years."

The biggest challenge was ensuring that traffic in & out of the town doesn't collapse entirely. "There's only one major road to Hulst, so we had to spread everything out as much as possible. We've fully invested in Park & ​​Rides, Park & ​​Walks, and plenty of shuttle buses. We're also encouraging locals to come by bike, and others to take buses. This way, we can relieve the pressure on that provincial road as much as possible. Thanks to these measures, everything will run smoothly."

To ensure the Hulst city center isn't overloaded, the organizers commissioned a capacity calculation for the venue. "In principle, we can safely accommodate 55,000 spectators on the course. We're not there yet. We sold 35,000 tickets for Sunday afternoon in advance. We won't reach 50,000 or 55,000, but that wasn't a goal in itself."

The organizer thinks they understand why sales haven't been booming for the time being. "Due to his injury, Wout van Aert had to withdraw. We shouldn't be dismissive about his non-participation being a blow. We even specifically added a section to the course that could have developed into a running section, perfectly suited to his needs. National coach Angelo De Clercq already confirmed that it was a perfect circuit where he could have put Mathieu van der Poel to the test."

Even though he wouldn't admit it in advance, Van Aert definitely considered his participation at the World Championships, just like previous year. But since his crash and resulting ankle injury in early January at the Zilvermeercross in Mol, we know he definitely won't be participating.

"Now that the race isn't happening, many people might think: if Wout doesn't participate, there won't be any excitement anyway. Wout also has a lot of fans in Flanders. These factors will partly explain why we won't be reaching maximum capacity."

De Brauwer and his team are focusing on more than just cyclocross fans. "The course was built to please cyclocross enthusiasts, but we've also created a program for people who aren't primarily coming for the sport. The Lokerse Feesten (one of the largest festivals in Flanders, ed.) have booked our side program, and there's even a whole Kamping Kitsch tent. And we've always been a cyclocross venue in Hulst that attracts a lot of families and children. We want to keep it that way."

That Hulst won't be the most-attended World Championships in history isn't a disappointment for De Brauwer and his team. "We won't be able to reach the 65,000 people we had in Koksijde (2012, ed.), nor the 55,000 people we had in Hoogerheide (2009, ed.). But we can't accommodate them here either. We don't want the most spectators, but we do want to deliver a World Championship that people will talk about for a long time. We've always said we want to host the best and most beautiful World Championships. We're more than ready for that."