Mathieu van der Poel will begin the defence of his rainbow jersey in as little as two weeks’ time, after Alpecin-Deceuninck published his long-awaited 2025–26 cyclo-cross calendar on Friday evening. The schedule confirms a busy block of racing through Christmas and New Year, all geared towards his bid for an unprecedented eighth elite world title at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Hulst on 1 February.
Early start, with Namur pencilled in
Van der Poel is preparing to return slightly earlier than last winter. Provided he receives the all-clear in training over the next few days, he will line up at the Namur World Cup on 14 December. Should he need extra time, his opening race will shift to Antwerp on 20 December.
Alpecin-Deceuninck described Namur – and the Benidorm World Cup in January – as “provisional”, noting that the former depends on his immediate race readiness, while the latter will hinge on how his preparation for the spring road season evolves.
The Dutchman raced eight times last winter, starting in Zonhoven on 22 December and winning every race he entered. This year’s programme again features 13 dates, but with a more intensive December, including three World Cups and back-to-back X2O Badkamers Trofee rounds around Christmas.
Building toward Hulst – and history
February’s World Championships in Hulst will be the culmination of his winter. Van der Poel is already tied with Erik De Vlaeminck on seven world titles. A win on home soil would move him into clear, unprecedented territory.
The Dutchman has dominated the discipline since his junior years, but much of the intrigue surrounding this season now focuses on when he will first meet long-time rival Wout van Aert. The Belgian has confirmed he will return to ‘cross, but is yet to publish his programme. Indications suggest he will race before Christmas.
Tom Pidcock, meanwhile, will not contest the cyclo-cross season, removing the possibility of the trio sharing a start line this winter.
Mathieu van der Poel’s 2025–26 cyclo-cross programme
14 December – UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, Namur (TBC)
20 December – UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, Antwerp
21 December – UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, Koksijde
22 December – X2O Trofee, Hofstade
26 December – UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, Gavere
29 December – X2O Trofee, Loenhout
1 January – X2O Trofee, Baal
2 January – Exact Cross, Mol
4 January – UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, Zonhoven
18 January – UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, Benidorm (TBC)
24 January – UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, Maasmechelen
25 January – UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, Hoogerheide
1 February – UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships, Hulst
With his programme now confirmed, the countdown begins. A winter with Van der Poel rarely disappoints – and if all goes to plan, this could be the one that rewrites cyclo-cross history once again.