One of the coolest races in \u2018cross is going down Sunday\u2013the Koppenbergcross. As you can imagine, it\u2019s all about the (in)famous climb that is used in Ronde van Vlaanderen. If you\u2019ve watched Flanders, you know damn well the climb is brutal. It\u2019s around about 600 m long, averages 11.6 per cent and ramps up to 22 per cent on its steepest section.<\/p>\n
Naturally, the legendary leg-buster is the big attraction. Sunday\u2019s races will test who\u2019s got the power to get up it without losing ground. It\u2019s so bloody hard it can sometimes force riders off their bikes, while the surrounding turns and grassy sections offer plenty of other opportunities to lose time.<\/p>\n
Brand\u2019s title to defend<\/p>\n
Lucinda Brand has already given her rivals something to chase this autumn. After winning at Superprestige Overijse on Oct. 25, the Dutch rider heads to Oudenaarde looking for another victory at the Koppenbergcross, where she claimed her first title last year.<\/p>\n
Lucinda Brand signs with Canyon\/SRAM through 2028 with big plans beyond racing<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n C\u00e9lia Gery finished second in 2025, with Sara Casasola third. This will be Gery\u2019s last race of the year<\/a>, btw, as she is set to go under the knife for an iliac artery issue\u2013similar to that Maggie Coles-Lyster had last year.<\/p>\n Nys gets his \u2018cross season going<\/p>\n Thibau Nys has picked the Koppenbergcross for his first race of the winter. It\u2019s a familiar place for the Belgian. The Lidl-Trek rider won here in both 2023 and 2025. Cameron Mason and Pim Ronhaar finished behind him last year and will be there again. So sure, no Mathieu van der Poel or Wout van Aert\u2013yet\u2013by the son of Sven is definitely part of the Big 3, 2.0. Michael Vanthourenhout has already been collecting results this season, a big dub at Overijse. He\u2019ll have the advantage of recent racing, while Nys will be looking to turn his preparation into results.<\/p>\n Sunday is also the opening round of the eight-race X\u00b2O Badkamers Trofee. It\u2019s sort of like a long stage race over the season\u2013where the overall standings are decided by cumulative time.<\/p>\n You can tune into Sunday\u2019s race on Flobikes.com. Coverage begins at 7:40 a.m. EDT. Don\u2019t forget, this weekend is also the 2026 national \u2018cross champs. This year\u2019s event takes place at Hardwood Ski and Bike<\/a>. Canadian Cycling Magazine will be on the scene so be sure to check our site for reports as well as Instagram<\/a> for all kinds of content.<\/p>\n Affiliate links present. Canadian Cycling Magazine may receive commissions<\/p>\n
Nys won\u2019t be short of competition.<\/p>\n