CYCLOCROSS: Parkcross Maldegem 2026 (BEL)

Maldegem, Belgium 04 Feb 2026 Class C2 – Class 2

Website www.maldegem.be/parkcross

Parkcross. The first cross after the World Cup

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 4, 2026, and discover who will succeed Laurens Sweeck and Marie Schreiber. Follow the Exact Cross Maldegem from the front row in Sint-Annapark or via the live broadcast on Sporza. More information is available on the Exact Cross website .

Results powered by FirstCycling.com

Results powered by FirstCycling.com

Parkcross Maldegem, also known as Cyclocross Vossenhol, is a beloved fixture on the Belgian cyclocross calendar. Since its inception in 2007, it has carved out a unique niche as the “celebration cross”—traditionally held on the Wednesday immediately following the UCI World Championships.

Here is the history and profile of this mid-week classic.

📅 The “Post-Worlds” Tradition

Parkcross is famous for its timing. Because it takes place just days after the World Championships, it often serves as the first opportunity for fans to see the newly crowned World Champions race in their rainbow jerseys on Belgian soil.

The atmosphere is typically more relaxed than a World Cup, functioning as a mid-week festival in Sint-Annapark, right in the center of Maldegem.

🏆 Evolution and Series

• Early Years (2007–2016): The race began as a standalone “B-cross” or independent race. Despite not being part of a major trophy series initially, its timing ensured it always attracted a top-tier field.
• Exact Cross (formerly Ethias Cross): Since 2017, the race has been a key part of the Exact Cross series (except for 2023). This series focuses on individual race prestige rather than an overall points classification, allowing for aggressive, “win-or-bust” racing.
• Women’s Race: A professional women’s category was added in 2015, quickly becoming as prestigious as the men’s event.

🚴 The Course: “A Grass Criterium”

Unlike the brutal mud-fests of Gavere or the steep dunes of Koksijde, Maldegem is known for being fast and technical.

• Terrain: It is largely flat, winding through the paths and lawns of Sint-Annapark.
• Obstacles: It features artificial barriers, several sand pits, and a high number of corners that require “crit-like” bike handling.
• Speed: Because it lacks massive climbs, the race often stays tactical, with groups staying together longer than in other Belgian crosses.

🥇 Hall of Fame

The race has been dominated by the legends of the sport.

Men’s Winners

• Sven Nys: The “Cannibal” holds the record for the most wins, taking the inaugural edition in 2007 and winning four times in total (2007, 2009, 2011, 2014).
• Mathieu van der Poel: The Dutch superstar took dominant victories here in 2017 and 2019.
• Eli Iserbyt & Laurens Sweeck: Recent years have seen a rivalry between these two, with Sweeck winning in 2018, 2022, and 2025.

Women’s Winners

• Sanne Cant: The Belgian legend won the first two editions of the women’s race (2015, 2016).
• Annemarie Worst: Currently holds the most wins for the women, with a hat-trick of victories (2020, 2022, 2023).
• Marianne Vos: The greatest of all time added Maldegem to her trophy cabinet in 2017 and 2018.

🆕 Latest Update: 2026 Edition

In the edition held on February 4, 2026, the race saw Niels Vandeputte take a hard-fought victory in the men’s elite race, while Marie Schreiber successfully defended her title in the women’s elite category.

Note: Because the race is held on a Wednesday, it is a favorite for local school children and fans who take the afternoon off to enjoy the “Vlaamse kermis” (Flemish fair) atmosphere that surrounds the park.

Since the women’s category was introduced to the Parkcross Maldegem in 2015, the race has seen a mix of dominant multi-year champions and rising stars.

The most successful rider in the history of the women’s event is Annemarie Worst, who has claimed three victories. She is closely followed by Belgian legend Sanne Cant, multisport icon Marianne Vos, and the most recent back-to-back winner, Marie Schreiber, all of whom have two wins each.

🏆 Parkcross Maldegem: Women’s Winners

The following table lists every winner since the race’s inception: