The 2026 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships brings the world's best riders to Hulst, Netherlands, from January 30 to February 1. Whether you're at home or abroad, here's how to watch live – with all official TV channels, legitimate free streams, and a simple way to keep access to your home subscription securely through a VPN while travelling.
What time is the 2026 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships Elite Men's race?
2026 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships Schedule
Saturday 31 January 2026 • Hulst → Hulst
| Timezone | Elite Men Race Start | |
|---|---|---|
| Local | CET / UTC+1 | 15:10 |
Race Favourites
Lucinda Brand dominated the women's race on January 31, beating national teammate Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado by 27 seconds.
For the men's race, the key storyline is Mathieu van der Poel’s quest for a record-breaking eighth Elite world title on home soil. Standing in his way are rising stars like Thibau Nys and Tibor Del Grosso. It's hard to see anyone unseating Van der Poel, but in cyclocross nothing is ever certain.
Read our complete UCI CX World Championships preview for all the details on the favourites and the course.
How to watch the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships
The 2026 championships are available through a mix of free-to-air national broadcasters and premium sports networks.
Live Streaming Coverage by Region
| Region | Broadcaster | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | Discovery+ / TNT Sports | Complete live coverage of all categories via TNT Sports 4. | |
United States | FloBikes | $29.99 / month | Exclusive US rights holder for all World Championship races. |
Canada | FloBikes | $39.99 CAD / month | Official streaming home for CX fans in Canada. |
Australia | Stan Sport | AU$20 / month (add-on) | Live and on-demand coverage for Australian viewers. |
Belgium | Sporza (VRT) / RTBF | Free | Free-to-air coverage on VRT1 and RTBF La Une. |
France | La Chaîne L’Équipe | Free | Free live broadcast on national French TV. |
Netherlands | NOS / HBO Max | Free | NOS shows Elite races for free; Max has full coverage. |
Italy | RAI Sport | Free | Free terrestrial and digital coverage in Italy. |
Spain | Teledeporte | Free | Free official stream via RTVE Play in Spain. |
Legal Free Streams
Velora tip: Many countries offer free-to-air official coverage. Certain national broadcasters show the race live for free — entirely legally:
- Belgium: Sporza (VRT) and RTBF (Auvio)
- France: La Chaîne L’Équipe
- Italy: RAI Sport
- Spain: Teledeporte (RTVE)
- Netherlands: NOS (Elite races only)
- UCI YouTube: The UCI is streaming World Championship events on its YouTube channel for regions where no other rights exist, for example in parts of Asia. The Men's Elite race will be streamed here.
You can access your usual services abroad via a VPN service. If you're abroad, you can connect via VPN to your home country to access these official, legal feeds – just as if you were at home.
Using a VPN Legally While Travelling
Broadcasters often limit streams to home viewers. If you're travelling, a VPN lets you securely connect to your home network – so you can keep watching your existing paid or free account from abroad.
Velora Choice: NordVPN
Use a secure VPN connection to watch cycling on your existing subscription services or free streams while you’re away from home. Always follow local laws and your provider’s terms of use.
Our editorial team uses NordVPN by choice, we all purchased it independently to watch cycling races wherever we are.
- 8,400+ VPN servers covering 167+ locations
- One of the fastest VPNs on the market
- Protection from surveillance & cyberthreats
- Use NordVPN on up to 10 devices
How to do it:
- Download NordVPN – a VPN service widely used for streaming while travelling.
- Connect to your home country (e.g., Belgium for Sporza or France for L’Équipe).
- Open your usual broadcaster's site or app and start watching safely.
Velora never endorses bypassing broadcast rights.
A VPN should only be used to access official services – whether paid or free-to-air – while abroad.
Always use legitimate platforms. Unofficial streams often breach copyright and expose viewers to malware or fake ads.
Why the 2026 CX World Championships is significant
Hulst is a regular cyclocross venue known for its steep city walls and technical terrain. A win for Mathieu van der Poel would move him past Erik De Vlaeminck to become the most successful cyclocross rider of all time. With the Dutch home crowd behind him, the races are expected to draw large home support around the course.
Quick Recap
- Watch live via official broadcasters (Discovery+, FloBikes, Stan Sport)
- Access free and legal coverage via Sporza, L’Équipe, and RAI Sport
- Travelling abroad? Use a VPN to keep access to your home subscription
- Avoid illegal or pirate streams – they're unsafe and breach copyright
Coverage of the 2026 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships is available via the broadcasters listed above; schedules and availability may vary by region.
Velora Choice: NordVPN
Use a secure VPN connection to watch cycling on your existing subscription services or free streams while you’re away from home. Always follow local laws and your provider’s terms of use.
Get NordVPN - Special OfferFAQ
Velora only promotes VPN use to maintain access to legitimate, paid, or free-to-air services while abroad.
Cover image credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
