The UCI has released the 2026–27 international cyclocross calendar, with the Telenet Superprestige series adopting a holiday-focused schedule that includes a Christmas Day race at Heusden-Zolder.
Flanders Classics, which manages the eight-round series, confirmed that Middelkerke will move from its traditional February slot to 5 November as an evening race with a Halloween theme.
Ruddervoorde shifts from its long-standing role as season opener to 6 December, coinciding with St. Nicholas Day (Sinterklaas). Overijse now opens the series on 25 October.
"Due to the World Championships in Oostende," Chris Mannaerts, head of cyclocross at Flanders Classics, said in a statement. "The traditional date of Middelkerke changes from February to November. That will be an evening cross with a Halloween theme, in the middle of the autumn school holidays."
The 2027 UCI Cyclocross World Championships in Oostende, located near Middelkerke on the Belgian coast, prompted the reshuffle. Moving the Noordzeecross forward by several months is intended to avoid logistical conflicts during February's championship window.
Heusden-Zolder's move to 25 December marks a departure from the established pattern in European cyclocross, where the intensive "Kerstperiode" racing block traditionally begins on 26 December. Diegem retains its evening slot on 30 December, while Gullegem closes the series on 2 January.
The full 2026–27 Superprestige calendar:
- 25 October: Overijse
- 5 November: Middelkerke
- 11 November: Niel
- 14 November: Merksplas
- 6 December: Ruddervoorde
- 25 December: Heusden-Zolder
- 30 December: Diegem
- 2 January: Gullegem
The compressed schedule, finishing six weeks earlier than in seasons when Middelkerke served as a February finale, leaves riders with additional preparation time for the Belgian National Championships and subsequent World Championships.
The calendar includes themed evening-format races scheduled during school holidays, such as Middelkerke's Halloween event and the evening race in Diegem.
Cover image credit: Mathew Wells/SWpix.com
