Mathieu van der Poel meets history at the Cyclocross World Championship in Hulst

After a perfect season, Mathieu van der Poel has one last goal to achieve, the objective he has been dreaming of for years: to become the cyclist with the most Cyclocross World Championship titles, surpassing the legendary Eric de Vlaeminck, something he will achieve if he wins the race on Sunday, which would mean securing his eighth title. Despite having had spectacular dominance throughout the season, Lucinda Brand will not have it easy as she will have to face several tough competitors. And we cannot forget about the junior category where Benjamin Noval arrives with serious aspirations to take the gold, not to mention in the elite race a Felipe Orts in excellent form who, in a turbulent river, who knows if he could snag a medal.

Cyclocross World Championship Schedule – Hulst 2026

Friday, January 30

• 13:35 – Team Relay

Saturday, January 31

• 11:05 – Junior Women
• 13:10 – U23 Men
• 15:10 – Elite Women
• Sunday, February 1

Sunday, February 1

• 11:05 – Junior Men
• 13:10 – U23 Women
• 15:10 – Elite Men

Favorites to Win the Cyclocross World Championship – Hulst 2026

Given the season, betting against Mathieu van der Poel seems utterly absurd. Rarely has a cyclist shown such overwhelming superiority to the point, as happened a few days ago in the Maasmechelen race, of suffering two punctures and still winning comfortably.

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As we have been saying, only a misfortune in the form of a fall or an irreparable mechanical issue far from the pits could jeopardize a victory that seems practically assured, to the point, as seen in the Hoogerheide race, that his rivals seem to be more focused on being the first human than on challenging him. Finally, one fact we must consider. If everything goes as planned and Mathieu van der Poel manages to win his eighth Cyclocross World Championship, it is very possible, as the cyclist himself has hinted, that we are witnessing the last race of the Dutchman on a cyclocross bike.

Focusing on the contenders for the remaining podium spots, two cyclists seem to be in the best shape to claim medals. We are talking about Thibau Nys, who has completed an extremely solid season and is starting to show the class that runs in his genes. We have no doubt that he is destined to be one of the dominators of cyclocross in the coming years, as long as he can handle the pressure of balancing it with road cycling.

The other has already shown his level in previous years and this year, despite starting the cyclocross season late, has not disappointed. We are talking about the nonconformist Tibor del Grosso, who has added excitement to every race he has competed in this year and arrives at the end of the season in optimal shape.

After this trio, there are a good number of cyclists who will be there but, at first glance, have a more complicated path to the podium considering how the last races have unfolded. In any case, they have enough quality to seize the opportunity and snag a precious medal.

We are talking about men like Niels Vandeputte, Joris Nieuwenhuis, who already knows what it is like to finish second in a World Championship behind Van der Poel; the reigning European champion, Toon Aerts, and, why not dream of it, a Felipe Orts who, after a quieter start to the season than usual, has found his best legs in this final stretch of the season and it would not be unthinkable for him to repeat a feat like last year's European Championship or, not to go too far, his tremendous performance in the Benidorm race.

Among the women, despite the extraordinary dominance shown by Lucinda Brand throughout this season, the Cyclocross World Championship race in Hulst seems more open. Not because Lucinda has lowered her level, but because her main rivals have improved to a point that allows us to imagine a scenario of a fiercely contested race.

And there are several clear contenders for the podium, which promises a spectacular and fiercely contested race. However, those who initially seem to have the best chances of occupying the podium are undoubtedly Puck Pieterse and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, who after overcoming health issues and injuries that have made her season much more discreet than usual, has managed to find her form at the precise moment of the season.

We cannot forget about the great revelation of this campaign, the French Amandine Fouquenet, who, despite not having won any World Cup races, has secured a couple of Superprestige races, who knows if she could surprise, which would not be such a surprise, on the key day.

A special mention, as we mentioned at the beginning, goes to the Junior Men's race, where one of the pearls of Spanish cycling, Benjamin Noval, seems to be the chosen one, not only to take over from Felipe Orts in the coming years but to become a protagonist in the discipline as long as the road allows him to continue balancing both modalities. So far this season, he has several honorable finishes at the international level, although he still lacks that big victory that could come at the World Championship in Hulst.

Circuit of the Cyclocross World Championship – Hulst 2026

The Hulst circuit is undoubtedly one of the most scenic of each cyclocross season. Located in the province of Zeeland, in the south of the Netherlands, bordering Belgium and practically on the outskirts of Antwerp, the beautiful city of Hulst is characterized by a fortified old town surrounded by a canal, an area that is utilized for what is usually one of the most beautiful races of each season.

With 3.3 kilometers per lap, the Hulst circuit has been modified from the usual World Cup layout for this World Championship. The organization has added several bridges that allow crossing over the canal multiple times, which will surely provide us with spectacular images.

As for its difficulties, it is a circuit that takes place on grass terrain, which is synonymous with mud if the weather forecast confirms rain for the weekend.

This, combined with the presence of a couple of steep climbs where it is necessary to carry the bike on the shoulder and several steep descents that become extremely tricky when the mud appears, could make the Hulst race a highly selective test.

How to Watch the Cyclocross World Championship – Hulst 2026

Just this past weekend, RTVE confirmed coverage of the Cyclocross World Championship, which includes the broadcast on Friday, January 30, of the Team Relay event as well as the Elite races, on Saturday, January 31, in the women's category and on Sunday, February 1, in the men's category. It is only pending confirmation whether the broadcast will be available only through the online platform RTVE Play or also through the Teledeporte channel.

Eurosport will also cover the Hulst World Championship, but in their case, the Team Relay event will only be broadcast through the HBO-Max platform, while the elite women's and men's events will be available on the Eurosport 2 channel.