The fourth round of the Cyclo-cross World Cup of the season will be held at the Citadel of Namur on Sunday. The UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup Namur is now in its 14th edition and welcomes four-time winner Lucinda Brand and five-time winner Mathieu van der Poel, the most successful female and male riders in Namur’s cyclo-cross history. Defending champions Ceylin Alvarado and Michael Vanthourenhout and World Cup leaders Aniek van Alpen and Thibau Nys are some of their main challengers.
After Tabor in the Czech Republic, Flamanville in France and Terralba in Italy last Sunday, it is Namur’s turn to welcome the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup this Sunday.
The course is known as one of the most beautiful and challenging in the world. Located on the iconic Citadel of Namur, it offers a versatile mix of technical climbs, cobbled sections and a large number of elevation changes. The course is full of spectacular and technical stretches, such as the dreaded off-camber section, making it a real test for the best cyclo-cross riders in the world.
Van der Poel is back!
World Champion Mathieu van der Poel will be back at the start in Namur on Sunday for the first time since 2020. In six appearances as a professional, the Dutch phenomenon has achieved a record number of five victories: in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Michael Vanthourenhout, winner in 2021 and 2024 – and also winner of the European Championships on the same course in 2022 – is likely to be one of van der Poel’s biggest challengers on Sunday. Vanthourenhout is in good form, having won the World Cup round in Terralba on the Italian island of Sardinia last Sunday.
Thibau Nys is also a contender in Namur. The 23-year-old Belgian Champion has never mounted the podium at the Citadel, but with World Cup victories in Tabor and Flamanville, he has certainly not missed his start in the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup. After three races, he is in first place. Nys is followed in the interim standings by Laurens Sweeck, Joris Nieuwenhuis, Michael Vanthourenhout, Niels Vandeputte, Ryan Kamp, Lars van der Haar, Toon Vandebosch, Cameron Mason and Mees Hendrikx, all of whom will compete in Namur. European Champion Toon Aerts, who finished second in Namur last year, will also be there!
Brand going for number 5?
In the women’s race, Lucinda Brand is the record holder in the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup Namur. The Dutchwoman triumphed there in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. In 2023 and 2024, she had to settle for third and second place respectively; each time, Ceylin Alvarado took the victory. Alvarado had to withdraw from Terralba last weekend due to illness, but hopes to return to her winning ways in Namur.
Brand won the Tabor and Terralba cyclo-cross races this season, but is one point behind Aniek van Alphen, the winner in Flamanville, in the World Cup rankings. Van Alphen will also be competing in Namur on Sunday, as will Leonie Bentveld, Shirin van Anrooij, Manon Bakker, Inge van der Heijden and Denise Betsema. There is no shortage of Dutch top names!
From the rest of the world, we can look forward to seeing Italy’s Sara Casasola, France’s Amandine Fouquenet, Hélène Clauzel and Célia Gery, and of course Belgian Champion Marion Norbert Riberolle. An interesting name from Switzerland is Jolanda Neff. The 32-year-old Neff is the Olympic mountain bike champion from Tokyo 2021 and on Sunday she will compete in a race of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup for the first time in four years. In Namur, Neff impressively finished fifth a few years ago.
”Letting the region shine far beyond its borders”
Adrien Dolimont, Minister-President of Wallonia: “Hosting a new round of the Cyclo-cross World Cup, in the magnificent setting of the citadel of Namur and on one of the most spectacular and challenging courses in Europe, shows how passionate we are about this sport. Wallonia loves top sporting performances and people who dare to surpass themselves. That is why I invite everyone to put on their boots and experience this unique sporting celebration together. Let’s celebrate cyclo-cross loudly and enthusiastically and let our region shine far beyond its borders.”
Jacqueline Galant, Walloon Minister for Sport: “Cyclo-cross in Namur has become an unmissable event that showcases not only sporting excellence but also the dynamic character of our region. We are proud to host races in the capital of Wallonia that inspire, connect and showcase our region far beyond its borders. Long live cyclo-cross, long live Wallonia and above all: long live sport!”
Charlotte Bazelaire, Acting Mayor Namur: “Cyclo-cross is always a highlight in Namur. The Citadel offers a spectacular and challenging course that attracts the best riders in the world every year. The fact that Mathieu van der Poel is competing adds extra glamour to this edition: his presence exudes prestige and makes it a complete celebration for everyone who loves cyclo-cross. With the support of a loyal and enthusiastic crowd, the riders are ready to put on a show that perfectly suits this unique location. This event underlines the energy and ambition of Namur, which is looking forward with confidence to 2030 and the arrival of the World Championships.”
10.000 Spectators
Cyclo-cross is becoming increasingly popular in Wallonia. Last year, the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup Namur welcomed a record number of over 9,600 spectators. Will the arrival of Mathieu van der Poel push that number beyond the magic milestone of 10,000 for the first time on Sunday? With such a strong field of participants and an exciting course, there will be no shortage of sporting spectacle on Sunday. And for even more atmosphere on Sunday, fans can head to the Spectator Tent, close to the off-camber section. DJs will be providing non-stop party music there until 5.30 p.m.
