Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) leads the elite men's field into Saturday's penultimate UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup round at Maasmechelen, unbeaten in his six World Cup starts this season and heavy favourite on a course that rewards his explosive power.
On the women's side Lucinda Brand (Baloise Verzekeringen - Het Poetsbureau Lions) secured her fourth career World Cup overall title following her victory in Benidorm last weekend, leaving Saturday's contest focused on the individual race win and the remaining podium places in the general classification.
Maasmechelen's circuit is built on the slopes of former coal mine slag heaps, locally known as terhills. The terrain creates a distinctive race profile: short, steep ramps that force repeated accelerations, heavy muddy stretches, and technical off-camber grass sections where positioning into tight corners becomes critical.
The compact layout makes overtaking difficult once gaps form. In the 2025 edition, Van der Poel capitalised on a second-lap crash by Wout van Aert to launch a solo move and finished with a lead of more than a minute.
Course conditions
Forecasts indicate a cold but dry race day, with temperatures reaching 7-8°C and minimal precipitation expected. A frozen morning surface may thaw slightly by the afternoon elite races, creating a greasy top layer on the gravel and grass that will make tyre pressure selection a key technical decision for mechanics.
Dry conditions should keep average speeds high and reduce running sections, favouring riders with superior cornering speed over those who excel in heavy mud.
Elite men favourites
Van der Poel's Benidorm victory extended his perfect World Cup record this season. The technical, punchy nature of the Maasmechelen terhills suits his acceleration and bike-handling, making him the favourite.
Thibau Nys (Baloise Verzekeringen - Het Poetsbureau Lions) finished second in Benidorm and has demonstrated excellent late-season form. The Belgian is highly proficient on steep climbs and is one of the strongest domestic challengers to Van der Poel.
Felipe Orts (Ridley Racing Team) is enjoying a career-best campaign. The Spanish champion's third place in Benidorm confirmed his ability to compete on fast, technical courses.
Tibor Del Grosso and Niels Vandeputte complete Alpecin-Premier Tech's trio of podium threats. Del Grosso finished fourth in Benidorm and second in Zonhoven earlier this month, while Vandeputte has been a consistent top-five presence throughout the Belgian calendar.
Elite women favourites
Brand arrives without overall classification pressure. She has dominated heavy and technical circuits during the 2025-2026 season.
Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Premier Tech) finished second in Benidorm and remains Brand's closest rival. Her technical skills could be advantageous on the mine slopes, where clean execution through off-camber sections can create time gaps.
Amandine Fouquenet (Pauwels Sauzen-Altez) has emerged as a consistent podium contender this season, challenging Dutch riders, with her third-place finish in Spain continuing that progression.
Shirin van Anrooij (Baloise Verzekeringen - Het Poetsbureau Lions) is returning to form after an inconsistent mid-season stretch. Her climbing ability suits terrain that demands repeated power surges.
Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) is likely still recovering from the injuries she sustained at the Dutch national championships, but we fully expect her to be a threat here regardless.
Kata Blanka Vas and Zoe Bäckstedt, protagonists in the 2025 edition's tight finish, line up after finishing ninth and tenth respectively in Benidorm.
Read our guide to How to Watch UCI Cyclocross World Cup Maasmechelen.
Cover image credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
