Van der Poel can set an all-time record: times and how to watch the Hoogerheide World Cup

After 2 months and 12 races, the 2025/26 Cyclocross World Cup is coming to an end and in its last race, Hoogerheide, it is completely decided in the women's category, thanks to the brutal dominance of Lucinda Brand. In the men's category, Mathieu van der Poel has the chance to win the General Classification and to become the CX rider with the most World Cup victories.

Cyclocross World Cup Schedule – Hoogerheide

Sunday, January 21, 2026

• 9:30 – Junior Men
• 10:35 – Junior Women
• 12:00 – U23 Men
• 13:40 – Elite Women
• 15:10 – Elite Men

Van der Poel Aiming for Sven Nys' Victory Record. Favorites for the Hoogerheide Race

Last race of the Cyclo-cross World Cup and last test for Mathieu van der Poel in the run-up to the World Cup, his big goal of this campaign in which he seeks to overcome, achieving his 8th rainbow, the historic record of Eric de Vlaeminck. However, his successful season in the World Cup, which has led him almost without thinking about it to have almost assured the overall classification, has also put him within reach of another record, the record of races won in the World Cup held by the legendary Sven Nys, with 50 victories, the same number that Mathieu van der Poel reached yesterday and that he would surpass if he manages to win today in Hoogerheide. In short, if Van der Poel was already favorite to win, having this kind of motivating challenges ahead reinforces his status as a top contender for the victory.

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How to watch the Maasmechelen World Cup: Van der Poel seeks to decide the overall today

In the hands of his son, Thibau Nys, lies the safeguarding of his father's record. A Thibau Nys who, to maintain hopes of winning the overall Cyclocross World Cup, must win both Saturday and Sunday and hope that Mathieu van der Poel performs worse than second place in one of the two races, since if Van der Poel finishes behind him in both, he would only tie the points that the Dutchman has in the overall standings, meaning that the greater number of victories for Van der Poel would grant him the final victory. Undoubtedly, a nearly impossible challenge, but as long as there are mathematical options, a Nys who has found that consistency that was previously lacking will continue to fight. A Thibau Nys who, if Van der Poel's retirement from CX is confirmed, should become the dominant force in the coming years.

As in the last races, the gap between the level of these two and the rest is significant. Behind them, we will find a good number of cyclists of similar level, capable of having the race within reach to take advantage of any opportunity that may arise from a mistake by Nys or Van der Poel. We are talking about cyclists like Michael Vanthourenhout, Tibor del Grosso, Joris Nieuwnhuis, and of course, returning to his best level in this last month, a brilliant Felipe Orts after his podium in Benidorm.

How to watch the Hoogerheide Cyclocross World Cup

An intense week for the Eurosport lineup with winter sports, in the lead-up to the Olympics and the Australian Open in Tennis. While the women's race can only be followed through HBO Max, the men's event will be broadcast on Eurosport 2, accessible through most television platforms.

On its part, RTVE has not yet confirmed whether it will broadcast the Hoogerheide race through Teledeporte or the online platform RTVE Play.