Hulst, Netherlands 30 Jan – 01 Feb 2026 Class CM – UCI World Championships
Website www.hulst2026.com
Email info@hulst2026.com
The 2026 Rabobank UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships are being held in Hulst, Netherlands, from January 30 to February 1, 2026. This 77th edition of the championships features an innovative 3.3km course with unique elements like pontoons across the city moat.
Below is the official race schedule for the championships:
Race Schedule
| Date | Time (CET) | Event |
| Friday, Jan 30 | 13:35 – 14:30 | Mixed Team Relay |
| Saturday, Jan 31 | 11:05 | Women Junior |
| 13:10 | Men Under-23 | |
| 15:10 | Women Elite | |
| Sunday, Feb 1 | 11:05 | Men Junior |
| 13:10 | Women Under-23 | |
| 15:10 | Men Elite |
Key Highlights
- The Course: The track in Hulst is roughly 3.3km long with 150 meters of elevation change. It includes 8 bridges and 5 pontoons, making it a highly technical and visually striking circuit.
- Defending Champions: All eyes are on Mathieu van der Poel, who is chasing a historic eighth world title, and Fem van Empel, the dominant force in the women’s elite category.
- Side Events: On Saturday afternoon, there is a “Hard at Heart” charity cross and a firework show scheduled for Friday evening following the Team Relay.
Pro Tip: If you are watching from North America, the local time in Hulst (CET) is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST). The Elite races typically start at 9:10 AM EST.
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
The UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships have evolved from a French-dominated exhibition of road racers “staying fit in the mud” into a highly specialized, global winter discipline.
Here is the breakdown of the sport’s history, from its 1950 debut to the modern era.
The Early Years: 1950 – 1966
Before the UCI officially recognized the sport, the Critérium International de Cyclo-cross served as the unofficial world championship starting in 1924.
- The First Official Edition: The first UCI-sanctioned World Championship took place in 1950 in Paris.
- The Inaugural Winner: Jean Robic, a legendary French climber who had won the Tour de France in 1947, took the first rainbow jersey. To this day, he remains the only rider to have won both the Tour de France and the Cyclo-cross World Title.
- French Dominance: French riders dominated the first decade, led by André Dufraisse, known as the “Coppi of the Fields,” who won five consecutive titles from 1954 to 1958.
The Belgian and Swiss Hegemony: 1967 – 1990s
As the sport grew, specialized riders replaced the road stars. This era saw the rise of the two most dominant nations in the sport’s history.
- Erik De Vlaeminck (The Record Holder): Between 1966 and 1973, the Belgian legend won 7 world titles, a record that stood alone for over 50 years (recently matched by Mathieu van der Poel in 2025).
- The Swiss Challenge: In the late 70s and 80s, Albert Zweifel broke the Belgian streak, winning 5 titles. His rivalry with Belgium’s Roland Liboton (4 titles) defined the era.
- Introduction of Categories: * 1979: The first Junior (U19) category was added.
- 1996: The Under-23 (U23) category was introduced.
The Modern Era & Expansion: 2000 – Present
The turn of the millennium saw two major shifts: the professionalization of the sport and the inclusion of women’s racing.
- Women’s Racing: The first Women’s Elite race was held in 2000, won by Germany’s Hanka Kupfernagel. However, Marianne Vos (Netherlands) eventually became the queen of the discipline, winning a record 8 world titles.
- The “Big Three” Rivalry: The 2010s and 2020s have been defined by the generational battle between Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, and Tom Pidcock. Van der Poel’s victory in 2025 brought him to 7 titles, equal to Erik De Vlaeminck.
- Internationalization: Long confined to Europe, the championships went “intercontinental” for the first time in 2013 (Louisville, USA) and again in 2022 (Fayetteville, USA).
- The Mixed Relay: The newest addition to the program, the Team Mixed Relay, became an official medal event in 2023.
All-Time Legends
| Rider | Country | Elite Titles | Era |
| Marianne Vos | NED | 8 | 2006–2022 |
| Erik De Vlaeminck | BEL | 7 | 1966–1973 |
| Mathieu van der Poel | NED | 7 | 2015–2025 |
| André Dufraisse | FRA | 5 | 1954–1958 |
| Renato Longo | ITA | 5 | 1959–1967 |
| Albert Zweifel | SUI | 5 | 1976–1986 |
