Cyclo-cross stars jumped from an exhilarating 2024 to a supremely exciting new year. Two UCI World Cup rounds within three days at the end of December (in Gavere, Belgium on 26 December and in Besançon, France on 29 December) were followed by one in Dendermonde (Belgium, 5 January) to kick off 2025 in thrilling fashion.
The naturally festive mood of the Belgian and French crowds perfectly matched the first class action delivered by some of the greatest names of the discipline, with reigning UCI Cyclo-cross World Champions Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Fem van Empel (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) snatching the last wins of the year before Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) and Wout van Aert (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) powered to victory in the first battles of 2025.
Young talents also got to show their worth in Besançon, as the intensity picks up towards the end of the season. There are three rounds remaining in the 2024-2025 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, to be concluded on 26 January, just ahead of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships.
Men Elite: MVDP and WVA turn up the ante
In the wake of his successful return to competitive action in Zonhoven, Belgium (round 6 on 22 December), 2024 UCI World Champion Van der Poel ruled the next two rounds, in Gavere and Besançon, to cap off an extraordinary 2024 in winning fashion.
“It’s always nice to race here in France, with a nice crowd,” Van der Poel said after his latest show of class in Besançon. Unfortunately, the six-time UCI Men Elite Cyclo-cross World Champion then had to observe some rest due to rib pain. On the other hand, MVDP’s intimate rival Van Aert was back in UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup action in Dendermonde, after pushing back his return due to injury. And the Belgian star immediately found the way to victory, with a one-man show through the mud leading to a strong margin (1’20’’) over his countryman Emiel Verstrynge (Crelan-Corendon).
“These are cyclo-cross races you remember,” said Van Aert with a mud-covered smile. “While doing it, you wonder why… It’s so difficult to stay concentrated and pull the win. Great fun. It means a lot to me, for sure. To be honest, I’m ahead of the schedule I had in my mind so it’s a real confidence boost.
With the 2025 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Liévin France on the horizon, stars gear up for more prestigious battles and Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) holds on to the lead of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup standings with 210 points. Toon Aerts follows (186 pts), with Joran Wyseure in third position (151 pts).
Women Elite: Van Empel and Brand lead the celebrations
Van der Poel’s rainbow shows in Gavere and Besançon were matched by Van Empel’s as the two-time Women Elite UCI Cyclo-cross World Champion took two victories, making it three wins so far for her in the 2024-2025 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup. On both occasions, Brand came in 2nd, with exactly the same gap: 37 seconds.
Leader of the overall standings since she won round 2, in Dublin (Ireland), Brand has made it to the podium in every race, but she was yet to claim a second victory in the 2024-2025 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup (five 2nd places, and one 3rd).
The muddy course in Dendermonde favoured her skills and craft, as the experienced Dutchwoman closed the gap Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) had opened early on, before launching a strong attack halfway through the race. "At the end of the second to last lap, my gap increased so I knew I just had to focus on the very tough part to keep enough speed there and then it was secured," Brand said as she returned to the top step of the podium. "It feels really good."
Untouchable in such conditions, Brand extends her lead in the overall standings: 255 points, against 194 for Van Empel. Zoe Bäckstedt (Canyon-SRAM Racing) lies in third place overall (174 pts).
Youth classes: Del Grosso’s talent and French delights
Absent in the first round of the Men Under 23 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, Tibor Del Grosso (Alpecin-Deceuninck) has been unstoppable since, winning all three races held in this category: in Hulst (the Netherlands), Zonhoven and, most recently, Besançon - while proving his worth against Elite riders, with top-10 results in Namur, Belgium (5th), and Gavere (7th). He now leads the U23 rankings ahead of Belgium’s Jenthe Michels (120 points vs 115).
The action in Besançon favoured French riders in the Women Junior race with a home 1-2-3 led by Lise Revol, ahead of her countrywomen Jeanne Duterne and Lison Desprez, who’s been on the podium of every race this season. With a tally of 110 points, she’s closing in on overall leader Rafaëlle Carrier (Canada), still leading the way (125 pts) after her back-to-back wins in Hulst and Zonhoven.
France’s Soren Bruyère Joumard ruled the Men Junior race in Besançon, bouncing back to victory after his early success in Dublin. With 112 points, he overtakes Belgium’s Giel Lejeune and Italy’s Mattia Agostinacchio (99 pts each) at the top of the standings. Everything will be decided in the final rush of the 2024-2025 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup.