The UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Maasmechelen 2026 brings the world's best riders to Belgium on January 24. Whether you're at home or abroad, here are the options to watch live – with official TV channels, legitimate free streams, and information on how to keep access to your home subscription securely through a VPN while travelling.
Race schedule
Saturday 24 January 2026
Race Favourites
Mathieu van der Poel is the heavy favourite in the Elite Men's field, aiming to maintain his unbeaten streak as the season hits its peak. On the Elite Women’s side, Lucinda Brand has already mathematically secured her record fourth World Cup title, but the fight for the podium remains wide open. Riders such as Puck Pieterse and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado are expected to feature on this technical Maasmechelen course.
Read our full Maasmechelen preview for a complete picture of the main favourites.
How to watch UCI CX World Cup Maasmechelen
Broadcasters across Europe and North America will be showing the action live on January 24. Full regional details are listed below:
How to watch
| Region | Broadcaster | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | Discovery+ / TNT Sports | Monthly pass required for cycling coverage. | |
United States | FloBikes | Exclusive US home for World Cup rounds. | |
Canada | FloBikes | Live streaming for all major CX races. | |
Australia | Stan Sport | Requires Stan base subscription + Sport add-on. | |
Belgium | Sporza (VRT) / RTBF | Free | Comprehensive free coverage in Dutch and French. |
France | La Chaîne L'Équipe | Free | Free digital stream via the L'Équipe site. |
Netherlands | NOS.nl / NPO 1 | Free | Live streams and TV highlights available locally. |
Italy | RaiPlay / Rai Sport | Free | Free live streaming for Italian viewers. |
Spain | RTVE Play / Teledeporte | Free | Official free-to-air coverage for Spanish fans. |
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 (Dutch) or RTBF Auvio (French)
- Netherlands: NOS.nl (Dutch)
- France: La Chaîne L’Équipe (French)
- Spain: RTVE Play (Spanish)
- Italy: RaiPlay (Italian)
- Rest of World: In territories without specified rights-holders, the race will be shown on the UCI's YouTube channel.
You can access your usual services abroad via a VPN, where this is permitted under the provider's terms of service. If you're abroad, you can connect via VPN to your home country to access these official, legal feeds, subject to any regional restrictions.
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.
How to do it:
- Download NordVPN – our recommended VPN for streaming while travelling.
- Connect to your home country (e.g., Belgium for Sporza or the UK for Discovery+).
- 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.
Maasmechelen race context
As the penultimate round of the 2025/2026 World Cup series, Maasmechelen is the final chance for many riders to secure their rankings before the series finale in Hoogerheide. The circuit is known for its challenging terrain and infamous 'terhills' (hills made of mining waste), requiring a mix of pure power and technical finesse. With World Championship form on the line, riders often race aggressively at this stage of the season.
Quick Recap
- Watch live via official broadcasters like Discovery+, FloBikes, or Stan Sport.
- Access free and legal coverage via Sporza, RTBF, and NOS.nl if you are in the respective regions.
- Travelling abroad? Use a VPN to keep access to your home subscription safely.
- Avoid illegal streams – they may breach copyright and can pose security risks.
Coverage of the UCI CX World Cup Maasmechelen begins on January 24; check the listings above for regional broadcast details and streaming options.
FAQ
Yes, viewers in Belgium can watch for free on Sporza or RTBF. Fans in France (L'Équipe), the Netherlands (NOS), and Spain (RTVE) also have access to official free-to-air streams.
Yes, using a VPN while travelling to access your home subscriptions (like Discovery+ or Sporza) is legal. However, you should always check the terms of service of your specific broadcaster.
The Elite Women's race starts at 13:40 local time (CET), and the Elite Men's race follows at 15:10 CET on Saturday, January 24, 2026.
In the UK, the race is available on Discovery+ and TNT Sports. In the US and Canada, FloBikes is the exclusive streaming home for the UCI World Cup series.
The UCI often streams races on their YouTube channel, but this is geo-blocked in most countries where a local TV deal exists (like the UK, US, and Belgium). It is primarily for "dark markets" without a broadcaster.
Velora only promotes VPN use to maintain access to legitimate, paid, or free-to-air services while abroad.
