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Follow us on GoogleThe first major championship of the cyclocross season is already here. The 2026 European Cyclocross Championships is held on the same Dutch circuit as the World Championships from 20 years ago. And 'almost' all of the big stars of European cyclocross will be in attendance. IDL Pro Cycling brings you everything you need to know aheads of Sunday’s men’s race!
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Recent Winners of the men's European Cyclocross Championships
2025 Toon Aerts
2024 Thibau Nys
2023 Michael Vanthourenhout
2022 Michael Vanthourenhout
2021 Lars van der Haar
2020 Eli Iserbyt
2019 Mathieu van der Poel
2018 Mathieu van der Poel
2017 Mathieu van der Poel
2016 Toon Aerts
2024 Thibau Nys
2023 Michael Vanthourenhout
2022 Michael Vanthourenhout
2021 Lars van der Haar
2020 Eli Iserbyt
2019 Mathieu van der Poel
2018 Mathieu van der Poel
2017 Mathieu van der Poel
2016 Toon Aerts
Course, Weather, and Schedule for the 2026 European Cyclocross Championships
Twenty years after the Cyclocross World Championships, an international cyclocross championship is returning to Zeddam. In 2006, Erwin Vervecken and Marianne Vos both claimed world titles there.
In 2026, Vervecken is involved as a course designer, including the well-known steps. These have been widened to 3 meters, bringing them into compliance with UCI requirements.
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The European cyclocross championships route 'has it all'
The European Championship course largely follows the World Championship course from twenty years ago, with adjustments made for a modern cyclocross race.
“The course will be a mix of different sections, with elevation changes, flat meadows, and some technical sections. Often, a course is specifically a sand or mud course, but this one will have it all,” says Vervecken.
"It's a course that will be tough even on hard ground because of the climb—that will definitely take its toll toward the end. I still remember the climb from the World Cups we raced there, and after an hour it was really grueling. But if it’s rained, the rest of the course will be selective as well,” said the Belgian.
Read more below the photo!
The course for the 2026 European Cyclocross Championships in Zeddam.
Weather report
It’s been cold and dry in the Netherlands these days, so the ground in Zeddam will be hard. Winds won’t be too strong in the Achterhoek.
Times (Sunday, November 8)
- Start: 2:00 p.m GMT / 9:00 a.m ET
- Finish: 3:00 p.m GMT / 10:00 a.m ET
2026 European Cyclocross Championships - Men's favourites
The European Cyclocross Championships have been held since 2015, and in the men’s competition, the title has been won exclusively by Dutch and Belgian riders.
We don’t need to look much further than those two countries—and let’s be honest—not even in 2026. The Dutch, in particular, are heading to the eastern part of the Netherlands with the top favorites.
The top favorite is Thibau Nys. The Belgian won last Sunday on the Koppenberg in his return to cyclocross, wearing red shorts. Why the red shorts? Because it might have been his last chance to do so, hinting at a possible European Championship title.
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The European jersey ranks higher than the Belgian one. From that, we can also tell what Nys is aiming for.
Michael Vanthourenhout finished a strong second on the Koppenberg and had already won several cyclocross races leading up to that point. The “Witte van Wetteren” is a fixture at the European Championships, as he’s always in top form at this time of year. In 2023 and 2022, that earned him the champion’s jersey in November.
Read more below the photo!
Niels Vandeputte will also be in his element on the fast course in Zeddam, while Jente Michels and Gerben Kuypers have also shown some great form in recent weeks.
Laurens Sweeck, Joran Wyseure, and Witse Meeussen have faced some setbacks due to illness in recent weeks, so it’s still anyone’s guess how they’ll fare. Wyseure (winner in Heerde) and Meeussen (second in Overijse) did, however, show good form two weeks ago.
From a Dutch perspective, much of the focus will be on Joris Nieuwenhuis, who races in his home region. The bearded rider, who normally races for Heizomat-Cube, knows the course in Zeddam better than almost anyone else. If he’s in contention for the win, the crowd will undoubtedly give him an extra boost with their cheers.
Read more below the photo!
Pim Ronhaar has also performed well at every European Championship in recent years, and just last week he finished an impressive fourth on the Koppenberg. The Bomba JOIN duo of Ryan Kamp and Mees Hendrikx will also be hoping for a strong showing in orange in the first championship in which Laurens ten Dam’s team is also competing.
In both 2023 and 2024, a “foreigner” stood on the podium. Felipe Orts finished second in Pontevedra behind Nys in 2024, while Britain’s Cameron Mason took silver behind Vanthourenhout in Pontchateau a year earlier. Together with Swiss rider Kevin Kuhn, who finds the course suits him well, they provide foreign competition.
IDL Pro Cycling top picks, 2026 European Cyclocross Championships—Men
Top Favorites: Thibau Nys and Michael Vanthourenhout (Belgium)
Dark horses: Niels Vandeputte, Joran Wyseure (Belgium), Joris Nieuwenhuis and Pim Ronhaar (Netherlands)
Long shots: Jente Michels, Gerben Kuypers, Witse Meeussen (Belgium), Ryan Kamp, Mees Hendrikx (Netherlands), Cameron Mason (Great Britain), Felipe Orts (Spain), and Kevin Kuhn (Switzerland)
Dark horses: Niels Vandeputte, Joran Wyseure (Belgium), Joris Nieuwenhuis and Pim Ronhaar (Netherlands)
Long shots: Jente Michels, Gerben Kuypers, Witse Meeussen (Belgium), Ryan Kamp, Mees Hendrikx (Netherlands), Cameron Mason (Great Britain), Felipe Orts (Spain), and Kevin Kuhn (Switzerland)
How to watch the 2026 European Cyclocross Championships on TV
The elite races at the European Cyclocross Championships will be broadcast live on TNT Sports in the UK, and on FloSports and HBO Max in the USA and Canada.
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David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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Latest Comments
- I’m still learning the calendar: is cyclocross mainly preparation for the spring classics, or does he race it as a separate goal as well? I’d love to see him back in the mud.jeremya04-11-2026
- The article makes it sound as if Roubaix is the only classic where he has a realistic shot. He’s been close in Flanders too, and one good tactical day can change everything.jennifer1904-11-2026
- Milan-Sanremo and Roubaix is a pretty special pair of Monuments. Any clues yet on which cyclocross races he’ll target?andrewf04-11-2026
- He’s right to be realistic about Flanders with Pogačar and Evenepoel around, but you can’t count Van Aert out on those roads. If he gets the right opportunity, he has the engine and experience to take it.davidm04-11-2026
- That Roubaix win felt like such a release after all the near-misses. Brilliant to hear that joy outweighed relief for Wout.patriciaw04-11-2026
- Why would a mountain time trial be different from a normal one? Is it just that the riders have to climb the whole course?samanthak03-11-2026
- I don’t quite buy the “fear of failure” argument. Riders can race the Giro and still have confidence in July; it comes down to recovery and planning, doesn’t it?patriciaw03-11-2026
- The Giro-Tour double is a massive ask, even for the very best. Pogačar made it look almost routine in 2024, but that’s hardly a sensible benchmark for everyone else!pedalpowe2903-11-2026
- Bakelants makes a fair point: if the 2027 Tour really suits Remco, he can’t afford to dilute the build-up. That 37km flat TT will be tempting, mind.julien03-11-2026
- Mont Blanc sounds like a spectacular finish, though four climbs on the final day might be a bit much after eight hard stages. Hope the route details are clear soon.raceready703-11-2026