2026 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships Schedule
2026 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships Schedule
The 2026 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships will be held in Hulst, in the southwestern part of the Netherlands, from Jan. 30-Feb.1. Here’s the schedule.
Nearly eight decades into the storied history of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships, there’s an opportunity for the 77th edition of the event to be monumental for the host country.
Should both defending champions in the elite races end up on the starting line when the 2026 Rabobank UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships takes place in Hulst, in the southwestern part of the Netherlands, they’ll each be looking to win for the fourth consecutive year, this time on their home soil.
Viewers in the United States and Canada can catch all of the action live on FloBikes and the FloSports as it unfolds from Jan. 30 through Feb. 1.
Can Mathieu van der Poel get the job done again in 2026 and also become the race’s first eight-time winner? Will Fem van Empel add the Cyclo-cross World Championships to her abbreviated competition schedule for this season and stand atop the podium one more time?
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Since the inaugural event took place in 1950, the Elite Men’s race has been won by a rider from Belgium on 30 occasions. The Netherlands is second on the all-time wins list with 12, and a record-tying seven of those belong to Van der Poel.
The Elite Women’s race was held for the first time in 2000, and the Netherlands has been the dominant performer, winning 15 of the 26 editions and 40 of the 78 total medals. Since 2019, riders from the Netherlands have won 19 of 21 medals, including gold, silver and bronze in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Dutch rider Marianne Vos tops the all-time wins list with eight, which is as many as Germany and France combined (four each), while Belgium owns the other three victories.
Will the coveted rainbow jerseys, given to each world champion to wear the following season, again end up on the backs of riders from the most successful countries, or will a new champion emerge in 2026?
Here's a look at the schedule for the week in the Netherlands:
2026 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships Schedule
All Times Eastern
Thursday, Jan. 29
- 3-5 a.m. - UCI course inspection
- 8-10 a.m. - Official training
Friday, Jan. 30
- 3-5:30 a.m. - Rider confirmation, Rabobank UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships
- 5-7 a.m. - Official training
- 7:35-8:30 a.m. - Team relay
- 8:45-10 a.m. - Official training
- 11-11:30 a.m. - Team managers’ meeting
Saturday, Jan. 31
- 3-4:45 a.m. - Official training
- 5:05 a.m. – Junior Women (race)
- 5:45-6:45 a.m. - Official training
- 7:10 a.m. – U23 Men (race)
- 8-8:45 a.m. - Official training
- 9:10 a.m. – Elite Women (race)
- 10:45-11:30 a.m. - Social cyclo-cross ride, “Hard at Heart”
Sunday, Feb. 1
- 3-4:45 a.m. - Official training
- 5:05 a.m. – Junior Men (race)
- 5:45-6:45 a.m. - Official training
- 7:10 a.m. – U23 Women (race)
- 8-8:45 a.m. - Official training
- 9:10 a.m. – Elite Men (race)
The time difference from the Netherlands (Central European Time) to Eastern Standard Time is six hours.
How To Watch The 2026 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships
Highlights, race replays and breaking news will be available on both platforms.
If you’re going to be in the Netherlands and want to watch the event in person, click here for spectator and ticket information.
What Events Will Take Place At The 2026 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships?
- Team Relay (Jan. 30)
- Junior Women (Jan. 31)
- U23 Men (Jan. 31)
- Elite Women (Jan. 31)
- Junior Men (Feb. 1)
- U23 Women (Feb. 1)
- Elite Men (Feb. 1)
About The UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships And The 2026 Course
Cyclocross racing is known for having the most rugged terrain, full of obstacles, water, sand, stairs, rocks and more – and when it comes to the course and the weather – the messier, the better.
The course for the 2026 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships has been described as “innovative” and “challenging” and promise a sensational experience for everyone involved.
Since Hulst already has experience with cyclocross through another famous race, The Vestingcross, that race and its course were the foundation for what riders will experience at the World Championships.
Among the additions to the course are pontoon crossings, steep elevation changes, fortress walls and challenging descents, among other features.
There also has been extra attention given to making the experience unforgettable for spectators, who will get to enjoy the comfort of sizable grandstands along the course and fans zones where they can watch with other fans who favor the same riders or countries.
All of the extra effort is to help achieve the intensity and atmosphere of other elite sporting events.
From a technical standpoint, the course is 3.3 kilometers with 150 meters of height, eight bridges, five pontoons and two descents/climbing sections.
What Happened At The 2025 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships?
In 2025, the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships was held in Lievin, France, the competition’s first stop in France since 2004. The inaugural event in 1950 was held in Paris, and France has played host nine times overall.
The Elite Men’s winner in 2025 was Mathieu van der Poel of the Netherlands, who won the title for the third consecutive time and record-tying seventh time overall – all since 2015. This year will be Van der Poel’s second opportunity to win four straight times, and he’ll get to do it on his home soil.
Belgium’s Erik De Vlaeminck won seven times from 1966-1973, while six riders overall have won four or more times.
The Elite Women’s race in 2025 was won by Fem van Empel, also from the Netherlands and also a winner for the third consecutive year.
Van der Poel is expected to be back this year, but Van Empel’s entry has not yet been confirmed.
Who Were All The Winners At The 2025 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships?
Elite Events
- Men’s Elite – Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands)
- Women’s Elite – Fem van Empel (Netherlands)
Under-23 Events
- Men’s U23 – Tibor Del Grosso (Netherlands)
- Women’s U23 – Zoe Backstedt (Great Britain)
Junior Events
- Men’s Junior – Mattia Agostinacchio (Italy)
- Women’s Junior – Lise Revol (France)
Mixed Team Relay
- Zoe Backstedt, Darlison Milo Wills, Maia Zoe Roche, Oscar Amey, Cat Ferguson, Thomas Mein (Great Britain)
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