Belgium 01.11.2025 – 15.02.2026
🚴 The Historical Evolution of the X²O Badkamers Trofee
The series, as we know it today, was founded in the 1980s and has gone through several title sponsors, but its core identity as a prestige Belgian series remains.
1. The Founding (1987)
- Original Name: Gazet van Antwerpen Trofee (GVA Trofee)
- First Edition: 1987-1988 season.
- Initial Focus: The series started as a collection of seven cyclocross races primarily held in the province of Antwerp in Belgium, sponsored by the Flemish newspaper Gazet van Antwerpen.
2. The Unique Format: Time-Based Classification
From the beginning, the series distinguished itself from other cyclocross competitions by adopting a unique classification format:
- Overall Winner: The series winner is determined by the lowest cumulative time across all rounds, not by points. This means every second lost or gained in each race is critical for the final standing.
- Bonus Seconds: To add excitement, bonus seconds are awarded during specific intermediate sprints (usually in the first or second lap of each race).
3. Key Naming and Sponsorship Changes
The series has changed its official title several times based on the main sponsor:
| Years | Series Name (Sponsor) |
| 1987–2012 | Gazet van Antwerpen Trofee (GVA Trofee) |
| 2012–2016 | BPost Bank Trofee |
| 2016–2020 | DVV Verzekeringen Trofee (DVV Trofee) |
| 2020–Present | X²O Badkamers Trofee |
4. Expansion of the Women’s Competition
The series has been a pioneer in promoting women’s cyclocross:
- Women’s Series: An elite women’s classification was officially introduced in the 2007-2008 season, running parallel to the men’s series.
- Women’s Trophy Name: The women’s competition has also had its own sponsored name, often known as the Soudal Ladies Trophy in recent years.
5. Historical Dominance
The overall men’s classification has been historically dominated by Belgian legends:
- Sven Nys holds the record for the most overall titles with 9 victories.
- In more recent history, the series has been a battleground for the sport’s biggest names, including Niels Albert, Wout van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel, and Eli Iserbyt.
The X²O Badkamers Trofee remains a cornerstone of the cyclocross season, celebrated for its unique time-based format that encourages aggressive racing and keeps the overall classification tense until the final race.
The X²O Badkamers Trofee (often just called the X2O Trofee) is a prestigious cyclocross series run on a time-based classification rather than a points system.
Here is the calendar for the 2025-2026 X2O Trofee season:
🗓️ 2025-2026 X2O Trofee Cyclocross Calendar
| Date | Race Name | Location |
| Sat, Nov 1, 2025 | Koppenbergcross | Oudenaarde, Belgium |
| Sun, Nov 2, 2025 | Rapencross | Lokeren, Belgium |
| Sun, Nov 16, 2025 | Flandriencross | Hamme, Belgium |
| Mon, Dec 22, 2025 | Plage Cross | Hofstade, Belgium |
| Mon, Dec 29, 2025 | Azencross | Loenhout, Belgium |
| Thu, Jan 1, 2026 | GP Sven Nys | Baal, Belgium |
| Sun, Feb 8, 2026 | Krawatencross | Lille, Belgium |
| Sun, Feb 15, 2026 | Brussels Universities Cyclocross | Brussels, Belgium |
Here are the overall Elite Men’s and Elite Women’s winners for the Cyclocross Trophy series, including its previous iterations: Gazet van Antwerpen Trofee (GVA), BPost Bank Trofee, and DVV Verzekeringen Trofee.
🏆 Overall Winners of the Cyclocross Trophy Series (1987–Present)
I. X²O Badkamers Trofee (2020–Present)
| Season | Elite Men’s Winner | Elite Women’s Winner |
| 2024–2025 | Eli Iserbyt (BEL) | Lucinda Brand (NED) |
| 2023–2024 | Lars van der Haar (NED) | Fem van Empel (NED) |
| 2022–2023 | Eli Iserbyt (BEL) | Lucinda Brand (NED) |
| 2021–2022 | Toon Aerts (BEL) | Lucinda Brand (NED) |
| 2020–2021 | Eli Iserbyt (BEL) | Lucinda Brand (NED) |
II. DVV Verzekeringen Trofee (2016–2020)
| Season | Elite Men’s Winner | Elite Women’s Winner |
| 2019–2020 | Mathieu van der Poel (NED) | Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (NED) |
| 2018–2019 | Mathieu van der Poel (NED) | Sanne Cant (BEL) |
| 2017–2018 | Mathieu van der Poel (NED) | Sanne Cant (BEL) |
| 2016–2017 | Wout van Aert (BEL) | Sanne Cant (BEL) |
III. BPost Bank Trofee (2012–2016)
| Season | Elite Men’s Winner | Elite Women’s Winner |
| 2015–2016 | Wout van Aert (BEL) | Sanne Cant (BEL) |
| 2014–2015 | Wout van Aert (BEL) | Ellen Van Loy (BEL) |
| 2013–2014 | Sven Nys (BEL) | Sanne Cant (BEL) |
| 2012–2013 | Niels Albert (BEL) | Sanne Cant (BEL) |
IV. Gazet van Antwerpen (GVA) Trofee (1987–2012)
| Season | Elite Men’s Winner | Elite Women’s Winner (Established in 2007) |
| 2011–2012 | Kevin Pauwels (BEL) | Daphny van den Brand (NED) |
| 2010–2011 | Sven Nys (BEL) | Sanne van Paassen (NED) |
| 2009–2010 | Sven Nys (BEL) | Daphny van den Brand (NED) |
| 2008–2009 | Sven Nys (BEL) | Daphny van den Brand (NED) |
| 2007–2008 | Sven Nys (BEL) | Daphny van den Brand (NED) |
| 2006–2007 | Sven Nys (BEL) | Women’s series not yet established |
| 2005–2006 | Sven Nys (BEL) | Women’s series not yet established |
| 2004–2005 | Sven Nys (BEL) | Women’s series not yet established |
| 2003–2004 | Bart Wellens (BEL) | Women’s series not yet established |
| 2002–2003 | Sven Nys (BEL) | Women’s series not yet established |
| 2001–2002 | Erwin Vervecken (BEL) | Women’s series not yet established |
| 2000–2001 | Erwin Vervecken (BEL) | Women’s series not yet established |
| 1999–2000 | Arne Daelmans (BEL) | Women’s series not yet established |
| 1998–1999 | Marc Janssens (BEL) | Women’s series not yet established |
| 1997–1998 | Arne Daelmans (BEL) | Women’s series not yet established |
| 1996–1997 | Paul Herygers (BEL) | Women’s series not yet established |
| 1995–1996 | Paul Herygers (BEL) | Women’s series not yet established |
| 1994–1995 | Paul Herygers (BEL) | Women’s series not yet established |
| 1993–1994 | Paul Herygers (BEL) | Women’s series not yet established |
| 1992–1993 | Paul Herygers (BEL) | Women’s series not yet established |
| 1991–1992 | Dirk Pauwels (BEL) | Women’s series not yet established |
| 1990–1991 | Marc Janssens (BEL) | Women’s series not yet established |
| 1989–1990 | Guy Van Dijck (BEL) | Women’s series not yet established |
| 1988–1989 | Guy Van Dijck (BEL) | Women’s series not yet established |
| 1987–1988 | Rudy De Bie (BEL) | Women’s series not yet established |
Key Statistics
- Most Wins (Men): Sven Nys (9 titles)
- Most Wins (Women): Sanne Cant (6 titles)
The major professional cyclocross series all showcase the world’s best riders but differ significantly in their global reach, classification methods, and prestige hierarchy.
Here is a comparison of the X²O Badkamers Trofee, the UCI World Cup, and the Superprestige:
🆚 Cyclocross Series Comparison
| Feature | X²O Badkamers Trofee (Trofee Veldrijden) | UCI World Cup | Superprestige |
| Overall Classification | Time-Based | Points-Based | Points-Based |
| Classification Method | Cumulative finishing time across all races determines the winner (like in a road cycling stage race). Bonus seconds are also awarded. | Riders earn points based on their finishing place in each race. The rider with the most points wins the overall title. | Riders earn points based on their finishing place in each race. The rider with the most points wins the overall title. |
| Geographical Reach | Primarily Belgium (with nearly all rounds held in Flanders). | Global/International. Races are held across Europe (Belgium, Netherlands, France, Czech Republic, etc.) and historically in North America. | Primarily Belgium and the Netherlands. |
| Number of Rounds | Typically 8 rounds per season. | Varies, but usually 12 to 15 rounds per season. | Typically 8 rounds per season. |
| Primary Significance | Belgian Prestige. Highly coveted title, often seen as a significant test of consistency due to the cumulative time format. | International Benchmark. Determines rider start grid position for the World Championships and is the most internationally recognized series. | Belgian Prestige. The oldest continuously running series, known for its focus on tradition and high-quality events. |
| Race Example | Koppenbergcross, GP Sven Nys (Baal) | Hulst, Namur, Tábor | Zonhoven, Diegem |
💡 Key Differences Explained
1. Classification Format (The Biggest Difference)
The unique format of the X²O Badkamers Trofee (and its predecessors) makes it distinct:
- X²O Trofee (Time-Based): The focus is on time. If a rider wins a race by a minute, that minute advantage carries over to their total time for the next race. This system means riders cannot afford to have one exceptionally bad day, and they must push hard even if they are not fighting for the day’s win, as every second matters.
- World Cup & Superprestige (Points-Based): The focus is on place. A rider gets points for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place, and so on. Losing a race by one second earns the same points as losing by thirty seconds. This encourages riders to save energy if they cannot catch the rider ahead, as the time gap doesn’t matter, only the position.
2. International Scope
- The UCI World Cup is overseen by the sport’s international governing body and is the most geographically diverse series, specifically designed to crown a worldwide season champion.
- The X²O Badkamers Trofee and Superprestige are historically more Belgian-centric, reflecting the deep cultural roots of the sport in the country. They attract all the top international riders but are organized by private entities (like Golazo) rather than the UCI.
