The UCI has announced quite a drastic change in cyclo-cross. Belgian crosses where Van der Poel and Nys won will no longer be part of the World Cup next season and there are another two foreign crosses that will also be eliminated.
That is one third of the entire World Cup that changes, because next season this regularity criterion will also have twelve rounds. The UCI has presented the new World Cup calendar to Belga. The 2026-2027 season will start with a diptych in the Czech Republic, in Ostrava (27/11) and in Tabor (29/11). Ostrava is a newcomer.
The third round will be held on December 13, although it is not yet known exactly where. It is certain that this will be a cross outside the Benelux. On December 19 and 20, the World Cup will take place two days in a row: Antwerp and Koksijde will receive the crossers. During the Christmas period, Gavere (26/12), Namur (27/12) and Besançon (29/12) follow.
Hamme instead of Maasmechelen
After the New Year, the World Cup will continue in 2027 with the crosses of Zonhoven (03/01), Benidorm (17/01) and Hamme (23/01). Hamme replaces Maasmechelen, where Van der Poel recently impressed with a successful catch-up race despite two flat tires. Dendermonde also loses its place on the World Cup calendar.
Thibau Nys managed to triumph in Dendermonde this season after a very exciting cross with several candidate winners for a long time. There are no changes to the traditional closing. A day after Hamme there will be a race in Hoogerheide (24/01), where we will finally get to know the winner of the next World Cup.
Four World Cup races change
Read also… Thibau Nys is anything but depressed and even combative: “Van der Poel will throw a bomb on the table”›
In addition to Dendermonde and Maasmechelen, the French Flamanville and the Italian Terralba are no longer on the World Cup calendar. It remains to be seen what the impact of all these new changes will be.
