The UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup season concludes on Sunday in Hoogerheide, providing the final round of the 2025-26 series and a final form test ahead of the World Championships in Hulst one week later.
With Lucinda Brand's (Baloise Verzekeringen - Het Poetsbureau Lions) overall title already secured and Mathieu van der Poel unbeaten in his six starts, the GP Adrie van der Poel will be their final World Cup appearance before the World Championships.
Brand leads the overall standings with 366 points, having broken her podium streak of 63 when she finished 10th in Maasmechelen on Saturday January 24 (24 hours before Hoogerheide). Van der Poel, meanwhile, has won every World Cup round he has contested since December, extending an unbeaten streak that now spans 11 consecutive starts in the 2025-2026 season.
The course
The Hoogerheide circuit, dedicated to World Champion (and father of the race favourite) Adrie van der Poel, is characterised by its high average speed, technical grassy sectors, often exceptionally muddy, and significant man-made obstacles. The long tarmac start-finish straight climbs steadily, requiring sustained power in the closing metres and preventing riders from sitting in the wheels during the final sprint.
The "Stairway to Heaven" remains the circuit's signature feature, a substantial set of steps approached via a flowing U-turn on pavement. Riders require explosive leg strength to run the stairs efficiently and technical precision when remounting at the top.
Hoogerheide again uses 40cm planks on an uphill approach, the maximum height permitted by the UCI, forcing a clear split between those who can bunny-hop at speed and riders who must dismount. In previous editions, this section has created gaps of 10 metres or more on a single lap. A technical off-camber descent leads into the finishing straight, where grip is limited and tyre pressure choices are especially important.
Conditions
The forecast points to largely dry, cold conditions, with temperatures ranging from -2°C overnight to 6°C during racing. Morning frost may create a "greasy" top layer on grassy sections as it thaws during the women's race, potentially hardening again for the men's event. Dry ground typically increases speeds and favours riders with high power-to-weight ratios.
Women's elite
Brand enters Hoogerheide with eight World Cup victories this season, one short of the all-time record of nine set by Sven Nys. The World Cup leader thrives on power-oriented circuits, and her record on fast, technical courses is strong. However, the narrative was slightly flipped in Maasmechelen when she finished 10th, opening a crack in her otherwise near-invincible season form.
Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Premier Tech) finished second in Benidorm and has been Brand's closest rival, but is not on the startlist for Hoogerheide, denying us a final World Cup battle.
Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) took a striking win in the World Cup in Maasmechelen in Saturday, making her the favourite in light of Brand's uncertain form. she possesses the explosiveness to bunny-hop the 40cm planks cleanly, a skill that is particularly useful if the race remains tactical into the final lap.
Aniek van Alphen (Seven Racing) sits second overall with 255 points and has been consistent, limiting losses on technical sections to maintain podium contention throughout the season.
Men's elite
Van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) has claimed seven World Cup victories this season, winning Maasmechelen 24 hours ahead of the World Cup finale in Hoogerheide. This season he has established a habit of breaking off the main group of contenders to build a large solo lead. Racing in his home region, he starts as a leading contender to extend his winning run.
Thibau Nys (Baloise Verzekeringen - Het Poetsbureau Lions) sits second in the overall standings with 242 points and has been one of the most consistent riders this season. The Belgian champion possesses a formidable sprint, and has been able to respond to Van der Poel's initial accelerations. Tibor Del Grosso (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Van der Poel's teammate, finished second in Zonhoven and fourth in Benidorm, demonstrating podium capability on fast circuits.
The field is diminished by injuries. Wout van Aert remains sidelined following ankle surgery after a crash on January 2, his team confirmed. Eli Iserbyt is also absent through injury, while Laurens Sweeck continues recovery from shoulder surgery in late December.
With several leading Belgian riders absent, the positions behind Van der Poel are closely contested. Felipe Orts, the Spanish champion who took third in Benidorm, and Michael Vanthourenhout, fourth in the overall standings, are among the riders targeting the podium.
Hoogerheide has traditionally served as the final benchmark before the World Championships. This year's edition is the final World Cup round where riders can refine equipment choices and test form ahead of Hulst.
Cover image: Mathieu van der Poel in Hoogerheide in 2025, credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
