Who’s the best racer in the US? It’s hard to say, this season. In some ways, this year in American cyclocross is in what could be deemed a ‘rebuilding year.’

Vlaamse Druivencross translates to Flemish grape-cross, the race being a celebration of grape cultivation which has shaped the region surrounding Overijse, Belgium. However, that name does not quite do the December cyclocross race justice. Its nickname however comes a bit closer - “the mother of all crosses”. 

The DVV series returns on Saturday for the Soudal Hotondcross in Ronse. Ronse is not the most epic course out there, but it has a history of producing fantastic racing. In 2017, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert were locked in a race-long battle trading attack after attack with neither rider able to gain an upper hand. With two laps to go, Lars van der Haar took advantage of the stalemate between the two favorites to ride clear to victory.

Israel launched its first Tour de France team Wednesday, the latest sporting initiative funded by a Canadian-Israeli billionaire who sees it as a potential bridge to the Arab world.

Is American cyclocross broken?

With many riders opting out of this weekend's racing at Ethias Cross in Essen to focus on the Zonhoven Superprestige on Sunday or to focus on a training block before the next round of World Cups, the fields were quieter than normal without racers like Annemarie Worst or Mathieu Van der Poel. 

World individual time trail champion Rohan Dennis has signed a two-year deal with Team Ineos, the British cycling outfit announced on Monday.

The president of the Rwanda Cycling Federation, Aimable Bayingana, has resigned following multiple allegations of corruption and accusations against the organisation of sexual abuse of female riders.   

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