Cyclocross World Cup Benidorm 2026: Preview & Guide

For the fourth year, the circus that can be called the Cyclo-Cross World Cup will descend on Benidorm. On the Costa Blanca they are very happy with the already semi-traditional arrival of the best crossers in the world, who also bring with them a lot of fans from the Low Countries. In the Leader’s jersey also looks ahead for the four time!

In Benidorm people want to get rid of the old-fashioned image, which is partly thanks to Benidorm Bastards always has in the Low Countries. Organizing sporting events is logically a step in the right direction, and it is also ideal for the riders themselves.

Most of them are already somewhere in Spain at this time of year to recover from a busy Christmas period and the subsequent national championships, and to put the finishing touches to the World Cup preparations through good endurance training.

In the women’s race we will definitely have a new winner, because Fem van Empel – who has won every time so far – has said goodbye to cyclo-cross for the time being. For the men, it remains to be seen who will now walk away with the victory after Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Thibau Nys. Not a bad list, at least.

Latest cyclo-cross World Cup winners Benidorm

2024/2025 Thibau Nys / Fem van Empel
2023/2024 Wout van Aert / Fem van Empel
2022/2023 Mathieu van der Poel / Fem van Empel

Course, weather and times Cyclocross World Cup Benidorm 2025

We are on the Spanish coast, but we are not going to see a sand cross – despite a small sand pit – in Benidorm. Parque El Moralet and Parque Foietes, that is where the spectacle takes place for the third season. A technical cross, which Puck Pieterse and Shirin van Anrooij labeled as a ‘kind of street race’ during the first edition. Fast, quite a bit of asphalt and yet also technical. And be careful of falls, two weeks before the World Cup.

‘There are two important changes. The first is the new start/finish section, which runs uphill and follows a staircase. The other is a bigger surprise: the old finish area will be transformed into a sandbox more than 100 meters long and 6 meters wide, forcing the riders to work harder on each lap. All in all, the course becomes a lot tougher and creates extra tension,” said organizer Pascual Momarpler.

Weather
We are in Spain, but there is still a chance of some precipitation in Benidorm on Sunday. In any case, the precipitation on the previous days resulted in quite a few puddles in the bends. In addition, with a temperature of 11 degrees Celsius, it does not seem to be super hot, although cross riders are used to something different.

Times (Sunday January 18, 2026)
Start women: 1.40 pm
Women’s finish: 2:30 p.m
Start men: 3.10 pm
Men’s finish: 4:10 p.m

Favorites Women’s Cyclocross World Cup Benidorm 2026

There seems to be no more tension among the women in the battle for the World Cup rankings: Lucinda Brand (Baloise-Het Poetsbureau Lions) is in the lead and with its still impressive podium streak, there does not seem to be any more tension immediately.

The battle for victory in Benidorm is all the more interesting. The fast city course on the Costa Blanca is not exactly something that suits strong man Brand and that offers opportunities, including for Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado from Fenix-Premier Tech. She became Dutch champion last week, won the week before in Zonhoven and is now also top favorite.

Teammate Puck Pieterse is not there with a view to the World Cup and spring.

The course in Benidorm could also be something for other ladies who ride on the road, such as Amandine Fouquenet (Pauwels Sauzen-Altez), Shirin van Anrooij (Baloise-Het Poetsbureau Lions), Zoe Backstedt (Canyon//SRAM), Marie Schreiber and Kata Blanka Vas (SD Worx-Protime)

Aniek van Alphen (Seven Racing) defends her second place in the World Cup rankings, while Inge van der Heijden returns on behalf of Crelan-Corendon after a fall during the Christmas period. Manon Bakker (Crelan-Corendon), Leonie Bentveld (Pauwels Sauzen-Altez), Krystina Zemanova, Celia Gery and Helene Clauzel are also present.

Top favorite: Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Premier Tech)
Outsiders: Lucinda Brand (Baloise-Het Poetsbureau Lions) and Amandine Fouquenet (Pauwels Sauzen-Altez)
Long shots: Aniek van Alphen (Seven Racing), Shirin van Anrooij (Baloise-Het Poetsbureau Lions), Zoe Backstedt (Canyon//SRAM) and Kata Blanka Vas (SD Worx-Protime)

Favorites Men’s Cyclocross World Cup Benidorm 2026

What a surprise: Mathieu van der Poel start in Benidorm! The world champion from Alpecin-Premier Tech had already put a big question mark behind his participation at an earlier stage, but – with reservations – did appear on the provisional start list. It was reported on Thursday that MVDP – who is training in Spain ahead of the World Cup and the spring – will not participate, but he has changed his mind.

Thibau Nys (Baloise-Het Poetsbureau Lions) may be watching with gritted teeth. He is ten points behind Van der Poel in the battle for the World Cup and would normally jump over the Dutchman, but that is unlikely to happen. Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Altez) also had a good starting position, thirteen points behind Van der Poel, but due to illness he cannot start on Sunday.

Whoever that is is now a two-time Dutch champion Tibor Del Grosso. He won the U23 category in Benidorm last year, one week after he had already become Dutch elite champion. On Sunday he will be – together with Jente Michels and Niels Vandeputte – expected to pull the chestnuts out of the fire on behalf of Alpecin-Premier Tech.

The rest is something to look forward to Joris Nieuwenhuis (who suffered from back problems at the National Championships on behalf of Ridley), Pim Ronhaar (Baloise-Het Poetsbureau Lions), who did not find his perfect course here, Otegem winner Toon Aerts (Charles Liegois-Deschacht), Mees Hendrikx (Heizomat-Cube) and Ryan Kamp (EKOI), who rode well at the National Championships, Joran Wyseure, Toon Vandebosch (Crelan-Corendon) and of course the man from the Costa Blanca: Felipe Orts.

Top favorite: Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Outsiders: Thibau Nys (Baloise-Het Poetsbureau Lions) and Tibor Del Grosso (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Long shots: Joris Nieuwenhuis, Felipe Orts (Ridley), Toon Aerts (Charles Liegois-Deschacht) and Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Premier Tech)

TV Cyclocross World Cup Benidorm 2026

Eurosport will broadcast the cross live on Eurosport 1 and HBO Max from 1:30 PM. In Belgium you can switch on Play Sports or Pickx Sports at the same time, while the NOS will come online with a live stream for the World Cup in Benidorm.