The UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Gavere 2025 brings the world's best riders to the heart of Flanders on December 26, 2025.
As a cornerstone of the festive "Kerstperiode," Gavere is legendary for its grueling climbs and deep mud – though this year forecasts suggests near freezing conditions which may turn the race into a faster but more brutal test. Whether you're home for the holidays or traveling 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.
UCI CX World Cup Gavere Race Times
Friday 26 December 2025
| Timezone | Elite Women Start | Elite Men Start | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local | CET / UTC+1 | 13:40 | 15:10 |
| Your Time | UTC | 12:40 | 14:10 |
Race Favourites
Gavere’s frozen, hard-packed forecast reshapes the usual Christmas mudfest into a high-speed climbing test, favouring riders with sustained power rather than pure running ability.
In the women’s race, Lucinda Brand looks the standout on long, seated efforts, with Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado closest if she can claw time back through cambers and descents. Puck Pieterse adds volatility early, while Shirin van Anrooij suits a late war of attrition.
In the men’s field, Mathieu van der Poel starts as a clear favourite on a fast, rideable Gavere, with Joris Nieuwenhuis and Michael Vanthourenhout best placed among the World Cup regulars to limit the damage.
Read our full preview for our deep dive into the Gavere course and the favourites.
How to watch UCI World Cup Gavere
Coverage is available through a mix of free-to-air national broadcasters in Europe and dedicated sports streaming platforms internationally.
Live Streaming Coverage by Region
| Region | Broadcaster | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | Discovery+ (Premium) | £30.99/mo | The exclusive home for CX in the UK via the Premium tier. |
United States | FloBikes | $29.99/mo | Exclusive US rights-holder for all UCI World Cup rounds. |
Canada | FloBikes | $39.99 CAD/mo | Streaming home for Canadian cyclo-cross fans. |
Belgium | Sporza / RTBF | Free | Free-to-air coverage in both Dutch and French languages. |
France | L'Équipe / HBO Max | Free | L'Équipe offers free coverage on their digital platform. |
Netherlands | NOS | Free | Free live streaming via the NPO Start app and website. |
Italy | RAI Sport | Free | Free-to-air coverage for Italian viewers. |
Australia | UCI YouTube / Stan Sport | Free | UCI YouTube is often free in Australia for World Cups. |
Legal Free Streams
Velora tip: Several European countries offer free-to-air official coverage of the World Cup. These national broadcasters show the race live for free – entirely legally for their residents:
- Belgium: Sporza (VRT) and RTBF (Tipik)
- Netherlands: NOS (NPO)
- France: L'Équipe
- Italy: RAI Sport
- Australia/Rest of World: UCI YouTube (where local rights aren't exclusive)
You can safely access your usual services abroad via a trusted VPN — without breaking any rules. If you're traveling away from home, you can connect via VPN to your home country to access these official, legal feeds — just as if you were sitting on your own sofa.
Using a VPN Legally While Travelling
Broadcasters often limit streams to home viewers. If you're traveling for Christmas, 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
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- Use NordVPN on up to 10 devices
How to do it:
- Download Nord VPN – our recommended VPN for streaming while travelling.
- Connect to your home country (e.g., Belgium for Sporza or 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.
Why the Gavere World Cup Matters
Gavere is one of cyclo-cross’s true benchmark courses. Its repeated elevation gain and long, punishing climbs expose form more clearly than flatter Christmas races, especially when conditions are fast and fully rideable. Raced on Boxing Day at the heart of the Kerstperiode, it often acts as a separator between riders carrying genuine World Cup-winning legs and those surviving on momentum.
With the World Championships looming, Gavere is less about spectacle and more about proof: who can sustain high power, stay clean technically, and still finish strongly on one of the calendar’s hardest circuits.
Quick Recap
- Watch live via official broadcasters (Discovery+, FloBikes, Sporza, etc.)
- Access free and legal coverage via Sporza, RTBF, and L'Équipe
- Travelling abroad? Use a VPN to keep access to your home subscription safely
- Avoid illegal or pirate streams – they're unsafe and breach copyright
Watch the UCI World Cup Gavere live, free (where available), and securely — wherever you are.
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
