{"id":454810,"date":"2026-02-03T02:24:25","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T02:24:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/454810\/"},"modified":"2026-02-03T02:24:25","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T02:24:25","slug":"eurotrash-van-der-poel-and-brand-lead-dutch-dominance-at-cross-worlds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/454810\/","title":{"rendered":"EUROTRASH: Van der Poel and Brand Lead Dutch Dominance at ‘Cross Worlds"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our cycling \u2014 and cyclocross worlds \u2014 roundup, leading off with Holland\u2019s hold on Hulst with wins by van der Poel and Brand. And as \u2018cross winds down, we get to start wondering: Will Remco threaten Tadej\u2019s control of the peloton? Will EF find a new sponsor? Will the Dauphin\u00e9\u2019s new name stick? Can we keep up with races happening on three continents? You have questions; PEZ has answers!<\/p>\n

TOP STORY<\/p>\n

No Drama, All Domination: van der Poel Coolly Commands \u2018Cross Worlds<\/p>\n

RACE NEWS<\/p>\n

It\u2019s Brand After All: Women\u2019s Cyclocross Worlds Report
\nAnd We\u2019re Off! Evenepoel Starts New Phase with Two Triumphs
\nTDF Team List Announced: Caja Rural & Q36.5 In, Unibet Rose Rockets Out
\nTour Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes (fka Crit\u00e9rium du Dauphin\u00e9) Unveils 2026 Route
\nGlobal Round-Up: Four Race Reports from Three Continents<\/p>\n

TEAM, RIDER AND CYCLING NEWS<\/p>\n

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\"TOP<\/p>\n

No Drama, All Domination: van der Poel Coolly Commands \u2018Cross Worlds<\/p>\n

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It all went as scripted: On a course rumored to have been designed by his father, in his home nation of The Netherlands, Mathieu van der Poel won a record-breaking eighth World Cyclocross Championships, employing superior fitness, technical near-perfection \u2014 and a chill affect throughout.<\/p>\n

While young compatriot Tibor Del Grosso seized an initial lead, with Belgium\u2019s Thibau Nys hanging closely to the leading Dutch duo, van der Poel soon edged away: No stomping attack this time, just steady wattage superiority and clean execution on every one of the course\u2019s tricky features, including a sharp, muddy rise that troubled every rider in the field \u2014 except van der Poel (at least until the final lap, when the result was cinched).<\/p>\n

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From there it was a race for lesser places: Van der Poel rode smoothly, exacting a wider margin with every lap, while Del Grosso and Nys traded blows behind, and a chasing group of more than ten dreamed fruitlessly about a podium spot. When van der Poel caught a bit of air off of a rise that some riders struggled just to ascend, his victory appeared inevitable.<\/p>\n

Nys drew out a small margin ahead of Del Grosso on the penultimate lap, but \u2014 as has been the case so many times this season \u2014 fell victim to technical bobbles and first lost the lead, and then lost any opportunity to vie for the final sprint. Del Grosso\u2019s second-place finish meant a 1-2 result for the Netherlands, and for Alpecin-Premier Tech. Behind, Spaniard (and eTrashMike fave) Felipe Orts Lloret made a go at distancing the chasers, but was ultimately caught and finished in seventh position.<\/p>\n

So: where to from here for van der Poel? He has suggested that with a record eighth Worlds win in his palmar\u00e8s, he would retire from cyclocross. Maybe go all-in on spring classics and cracking Poga\u010dar\u2019s hold on Flanders and Li\u00e8ge? Chase the Green Jersey \u2014 or even Grand Tour GC contention? Finally win a world-class mountain bike race? Work on the golf game<\/a>?<\/p>\n

Judging by the post below, for now, van der Poel is just enjoying his status as the GCROAT \u2014 the Greatest Cyclocross Racer Of All Time.<\/p>\n

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Final Results<\/p>\n

RACE NEWS<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s Brand After All: Women\u2019s Cyclocross Worlds Report<\/p>\n

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This season in women\u2019s cyclocross traced an arc: Early, consistent dominance by Lucinda Brand, then chinks appearing in her armor as she failed to win \u2014 and even to podium \u2014 in late-season races, all leading to suspense in the run-up to the World Championships in Brand\u2019s native Holland: would fatigue or frustration keep her from the top step?<\/p>\n

In the end, the suspense was for nought: Brand rode a powerful and technically superior race, navigating the Hulst course\u2019s challenges imperfectly, but far more smoothly than her rivals.<\/p>\n

The Dutch champion claimed her third elite world title, exorcising any doubts about her late-season form with a commanding performance on home soil. Brand\u2019s experience and tactical acumen proved decisive on the demanding circuit, where technical precision separated podium finishers from also-rans.<\/p>\n

Dutch compatriot Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, who mustered late-season success by consistently showing late-race speed, gave Brand her strongest test, at one point overtaking her after a lap-seven spill. But Brand reclaimed the lead and built a margin wide enough to stop and hoist her bike overhead at the finish. Puck Pieterse completed an all-Netherlands podium, having initially led the race and appearing very strong, only to fall very heavily on a muddy bend.<\/p>\n

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Alvarado fought to stay close.<\/p>\n

In fact, the race saw many mishaps, including tumbles from both Brand and Pieterse, a barriers-bumble from Manon Bakker, and even a dustup between two riders: Late in the race, Marion Norbert Riberolle and Krist\u00fdna Zemanov\u00e1 crashed together in a slippery corner. As they got up, Zemanov\u00e1 moved to retrieve her bike, and Norbert Riberolle turned away from her own bike and used both arms to shove Zemanov\u00e1 in the middle of the course. Upon hearing that she had been disqualified, Norbert Riberolle dismounted, sat on the ground, and cried.<\/p>\n

The victory adds another rainbow jersey to Brand\u2019s palmar\u00e8s and confirms her status in the cyclocross pantheon. Meanwhile, across the elite men\u2019s races, Dutch riders earned five of the six podium spots \u2014 in their home nation.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s hope that Wout van Aert continues to heal quickly, and enjoys a successful classics season, because Belgian cycling fans are\u00a0not happy\u2026<\/p>\n

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And We\u2019re Off! Evenepoel Starts New Phase with Two Triumphs<\/p>\n

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\u2026except: another Belgian cycling savior may have re-arrived: Remco Evenepoel christened his first season with Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe in emphatic \u2014 if qualified \u2014 fashion, claiming back-to-back victories at the Challenge Mallorca. The Belgian first led his new team to victory in Thursday\u2019s Trofeo Ses Salines team time trial before delivering a commanding solo performance over a diluted field at Friday\u2019s Trofeo Serra Tramuntana.<\/p>\n

In the 26-kilometer team time trial, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe executed their strategy cleanly, overcoming a two-second deficit at the halfway point to defeat Movistar by just four seconds. Evenepoel and his teammates performed \u201cpretty close to perfection,\u201d making their decisive move on the headwind-affected return leg.<\/p>\n

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The following day, the world time trial champion unleashed a vintage performance at Serra Tramuntana, attacking with 55 kilometers remaining and soloing to victory by over 90 seconds. The double Olympic champion struck on the Coll de Soller climb before building a two-minute advantage through his exceptional time-trialing abilities.<\/p>\n

Notably, the Serra Tramuntana field lacked top-tier competition, with no other Tour de France contenders \u2014 or even likely stage win contenders \u2014 present. Still, securing his 68th career win at just 26 demonstrates that Evenepoel is on track ahead of February\u2019s UAE Tour \u2014 and judging from his finish line and interview demeanor, Remco will gladly take the Ws.<\/p>\n

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TDF Team List Announced: Caja Rural & Q36.5 In, Unibet Rose Rockets Out<\/p>\n

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Tour de France organizer ASO has announced the 23 teams that will compete in the 2026 edition of cycling\u2019s most prestigious race on Friday morning. The lineup includes all 18 WorldTour teams plus five ProTeams.<\/p>\n

The three top-performing ProTeams from 2025\u2014Cofidis, Tudor, and Pinarello-Q36.5\u2014earned automatic qualification based on UCI points. ASO awarded the remaining two wildcard invitations to Spain\u2019s Caja Rural Seguros RGA and France\u2019s TotalEnergies.<\/p>\n

The announcement marks a historic moment for Caja Rural, which will make its Tour de France debut when the race starts in Barcelona on July 4. The Spanish squad\u2019s inclusion gives the race a second Spanish team alongside Movistar.<\/p>\n

Pinarello-Q36.5\u2019s selection means British star Tom Pidcock is expected to return to the Tour after missing the 2025 edition. The team\u2019s general manager, Doug Ryder, said being at the Tour for the first time represents \u201ca moment of great pride for everyone involved in the project.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tudor\u2019s presence on the start list suggests former world champion Julian Alaphilippe will also return to compete at the French Grand Tour.<\/p>\n

The most notable omission from the team list is Unibet Rose Rockets, which had been widely tipped to receive a wildcard invitation. Team founder Bas Tietema acknowledged the disappointment but remained optimistic in a video message to fans: \u201cThe Tour de France is and will always be our dream race. So please, keep dreaming with us.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Tour Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes (fka Crit\u00e9rium du Dauphin\u00e9) Unveils 2026 Route<\/p>\n

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The newly rebranded Tour Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes, formerly the Crit\u00e9rium du Dauphin\u00e9, will tackle 1,200 kilometers across its host region from June 7-14, 2026. Starting in Vizille and concluding atop Plateau de Solaison, the eight-stage race offers diverse terrain that will test riders across sprints, time trials, and demanding mountain finishes.<\/p>\n

The opening stage between Vizille and Saint-Ismier honors French cycling legends Thierry Claveyrolat and Bernard Th\u00e9venet, featuring the challenging C\u00f4te de Saint-Jean-le-Vieux (5.6km at 8.7%). Stage two stretches 237.3 kilometers to Le Puy-en-Velay, while sprinters will target victories in Montrond-les-Bains and Villars-les-Dombes.<\/p>\n

A crucial 28.4-kilometer team time trial in Perreux serves as preparation for the Tour de France\u2019s Grand D\u00e9part in Barcelona, utilizing the format tested at Paris-Nice where teams race together but times count individually.<\/p>\n

The race\u2019s decisive moments arrive during three summit finishes. Riders face new climbs at Saint-H\u00e9ry d\u2019Ugine and Crest-Voland before conquering the Grand Colombier via the brutal Virieu-le-Petit slope (8.4km at 10.2%). The final stage delivers a spectacular finish at Plateau de Solaison (11.3km at 9.1%), the same climb that will host a Tour de France stage just weeks later.<\/p>\n

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Global Round-Up: Four Race Reports from Three Continents<\/p>\n

Before we reach true Classics season with Omloop on February 28, riders are scattered across the globe, racing in \u201c1.1\u201d races and other buildup events. Here\u2019s a rundown from four such races last week:<\/p>\n

AlUla Tour<\/p>\n

Jan Christen delivered a stunning late attack on the final stage to claim his first-ever general classification victory at the AlUla Tour in Saudi Arabia; with one of its \u201clesser\u201d riders already winning, this season is shaping up to be another successful one for UAE Team Emirates-XRG. The 21-year-old Swiss rider started the final stage 14th overall, 33 seconds behind race leader Yannis Voisard, but attacked shortly after the summit of Harrat Uwayrid and soloed to victory. Christen won the overall title by 15 seconds over Sergio Higuita with Igor Arrieta completing the podium in third. The audacious move in the final 10 kilometers sealed both the stage win and overall classification.<\/p>\n

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Grand Prix Cycliste de Marseille La Marseillaise<\/p>\n

It was great to see sprinter-of-the-past Bryan Coquard atop the podium once again, after winning this French opener. With a less selective course that favored sprinters, Cofidis teammates Cl\u00e9ment Izquierdo and Alexis Renard led out Coquard perfectly for the sprint finish on Boulevard Michelet. Riding in his home country, Coquard edged out Steffen De Schuyteneer of Lotto-Intermarch\u00e9 and Alex Molenaar of Caja Rural-Seguros RGA. The victory marked Coquard\u2019s 54th career win and his first at La Marseillaise.<\/p>\n

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Trofeo Palma<\/p>\n

Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe capped off a dominant week at the Challenge Mallorca with Arne Marit winning the Trofeo Palma sprint, the team\u2019s fourth victory in five races. The Belgian rider, competing in his first race for his new team after three seasons with Intermarch\u00e9, outsprinted Max Kanter and teammate Alessio Magagnotti. A crash in the final corner changed the sprint dynamics, allowing Marit to make a quick tactical decision and launch his effort 300 meters from the finish. The win was only the second of the 27-year-old\u2019s career, ending a five-year victory drought.<\/p>\n

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Cadel Evans Great Ocean Race<\/p>\n

2026 has a revelation already: Tobias Lund Andresen outsprinted Matthew Brennan \u2014last year\u2019s rider-on-the-rise \u2014 to win the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. From a reduced group after 183 kilometers around Geelong, the 23-year-old Dane ran down Brennan in the final stretch along Geelong\u2019s Esplanade, with Australia\u2019s Brady Gilmore taking third. Brennan had launched his sprint with 300 meters remaining, but Andresen timed his effort perfectly to catch and pass the British rider. The victory capped a successful Australian campaign for Andresen, who had also won a stage at the Tour Down Under.<\/p>\n

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TEAM, RIDER AND CYCLING NEWS<\/p>\n

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EF Pro Cycling Seeks Title Partner to Expand Resources<\/p>\n

EF Pro Cycling has announced it is opening a title partnership position for the first time in its history. Education First (EF) will maintain its role as team owner and anchor partner with unchanged investment levels, while the new title partner would provide additional resources to help the team compete with cycling\u2019s largest budgets.<\/p>\n

The team has outlined ambitious goals including winning the Tour de France Femmes within three years and capturing both men\u2019s and women\u2019s Tours de France within a decade using riders developed through its system.<\/p>\n

Team CEO Jonathan Vaughters noted the arrangement is uncommon in professional cycling, with EF continuing its long-term commitment while inviting an additional major partner purely to strengthen the team\u2019s competitive position.<\/p>\n

Since EF\u2019s 2017 acquisition, the team has maintained consistent performance on the bike while building one of professional cycling\u2019s most engaged digital platforms. According to Nielsen Analytics, the team ranks among the sport\u2019s leaders in social media engagement and delivers strong return on investment for title partners.<\/p>\n

Key riders including Ben Healy, World Road Race Champion Magdeleine Vallieres, double-Olympic gold medal winner Kristen Faulkner, Richard Carapaz, and Neilson Powless have signed long-term contract extensions. The team, founded in 2003, has won monuments, Olympic medals, world championships, and a grand tour.<\/p>\n

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\"BritishCycling\"<\/p>\n

British Cycling Announces 2026 Elite Development Teams\u00a0<\/p>\n

As part of its ongoing effort to develop new generations of world-class cyclists, British Cycling has named its 2026 Development Teams.<\/p>\n

According to British Cycling, \u201cThese teams continue to play a vital role in nurturing young talent and developing the next generation of professional riders. Through dedicated support, structured race programmes, and innovative development initiatives, these teams provide the perfect platform for riders to grow, compete, and succeed on the national and international stage.\u201d<\/p>\n

First launched in 2021, the program\u2019s Elite Development Team status bridges the gap from club teams to UCI Continental level.\u00a0\u00a0Each team is guaranteed eight rider entries into all National Road Series and National Circuit Series races, offered promotion of their social media channels and team websites on the British Cycling website, and receive support in the form of education and training workshops.<\/p>\n

The Elite Development program includes eight men\u2019s teams, and four women\u2019s squads.<\/p>\n

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Canada Opens World-Class Velodrome in Edmonton<\/p>\n

The Alberta Velodrome at Coronation Park officially opened January 27, 2026, becoming Canada\u2019s newest UCI-certified indoor track and one of North America\u2019s most advanced cycling facilities. Located within Edmonton\u2019s 16,600-square-metre Coronation Park Sports and Recreation Centre, the velodrome will host the 2026 Canadian Track Championships and strengthen Canada\u2019s high-performance athletic pathway.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis represents a transformational investment in Canadian cycling,\u201d said Cycling Canada CEO Mathieu Boucher, emphasizing the facility\u2019s role from grassroots participation to elite competition.<\/p>\n

The striking elliptical complex, designed by FaulknerBrowns with hcma and Dub Architects, has earned international recognition including a WAF Future Projects Award. Positioned above ground level, the track offers dramatic views of cyclists reaching 80 km\/h.<\/p>\n

Olympic medalist Kelsey Mitchell praised the facility as \u201ca huge step\u201d for cycling and future athletes. The velodrome expands year-round Western Canadian access while remaining open to community riders, clubs, and schools.<\/p>\n

Watch the PEZ YOUTUBE Channel here<\/a><\/p>\n

Just in time for the road season \u2014 let\u2019s look back at Richard\u2019s first-look review of the latest in Pinarello\u2019s F-Series.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u2022 Gotta Comment, thought or suggestion?\u00a0 Drop us a line at [email\u00a0protected]<\/a><\/p>\n

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