Britain's Cameron Mason takes his first top-level cyclocross win after rain causes havoc in Niel
Cyclocross
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Follow us on GoogleCameron Mason (777) won the muddy cyclocross race in Niel on Wednesday. The Scot had both strong legs and good equipment, as he was one of the few riders who didn’t have to deal with flat tyres or crashes. It was the British Champions first win in a top level (and televised) cyclocross race.
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Read more below the photo.
Cameron Mason's form has been steadily building
Lucinda Brand pulled out of the women's race in Niel
First up, the women’s race began at 1:40 p.m. in Niel, where, just a few minutes in, we witnessed the defining moment of the race. Lucinda Brand twisted her ankle and had to leave the race in tears, hoping the damage to her ankle wouldn’t be too severe. Manon Bakker ultimately won the race.
At 3:10 p.m., it was the men’s turn, and Mees Hendrikx, starting from the front row, didn’t get off to a good start. Kevin Kuhn took the lead right from the start, just as he had at the European Championships.
Incidentally, the winner of that championship, Thibau Nys, wasn’t there in Niel: he’ll be back in action on Sunday in Hamme-Zogge.
A group of five went clear to compete for the win
Nieuwenhuis set off in pursuit of his teammate Kuhn, who, in turn, had his eye on who was coming up behind him. Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Altez) also made the crossing, though this left him sandwiched between the riders from Heizomat-Cube.
Joran Wyseure, who finished second at the European Championships in Zeddam, also tried to catch up in the third lap, along with Cameron Mason. After twenty minutes of racing, it seemed to be becoming clear that this group of five would be battling it out for the win.
Read more below the video.
Flat tyres and crashes in Niel
Vanthourenhout was clearly in his element and decided to add an extra lap. Nieuwenhuis was unable to respond, but the other three managed to keep up.
Meanwhile, Vanthourenhout—who also had to deal with a brief mechanical issue—didn’t let it faze him; he simply maintained his own pace, which was quite fast.
Kuhn was the next to drop out, due to a flat tire. As a result, the Swiss rider disappeared from view entirely, and the podium seemed to be gradually taking shape. In any case, Wyseure had his sights set on the top step of the podium, as he briefly took the lead from Vanthourenhout.
Vanthourenhout goes down on the penultimate lap
At least for a moment, because Wyseure also had to deal with a flat tire. Fortunately for him, in his case it happened not far from the equipment station. As a result, he was able to take his position at the front again.
Next in line: Vanthourenhout, who took a fall and had to continue despite being visibly in pain. Mason and Wyseure opened up the throttle at the front, while Nieuwenhuis took third place at the expense of the unlucky Belgian.
Mason, in particular, seemed to have some serious speed: he opened up a lead of just a few seconds over Wyseure on the penultimate lap. After the Belgian was forced to drop out in the sand trap, it was all over: Mason claimed his first victory in a TV cyclocross race.
Superprestige Niel Results - Elite Men 2026
1. Cameron Mason
2. Joran Wyseure
3. Joris Nieuwenhuis
2. Joran Wyseure
3. Joris Nieuwenhuis
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
- If he finished ninth at the Tour, why didn’t he get a stage win too? I’m still trying to understand how the overall standings work.julien11-11-2026
- No ‘cross at all this winter? That’s a shame, but with his road season starting in February, I can see why he’d want a proper break. Does stepping away mean he’s done with cyclocross for good?gearguru3311-11-2026
- I like the honesty of that training post. Even the best riders feel the difference after a few weeks off, and he’s got plenty of time to build back up.samanthak11-11-2026
- Three sets of tyres in two days at the Nürburgring! The man clearly doesn’t do anything by halves. Bet a winter without cyclocross will feel strange, though.bikebuffj11-11-2026
- Fifth in the world rankings after that autumn run is some achievement. Pidcock was so aggressive at the Tour, too—hopefully he can turn a few of those near-misses into wins inpatriciaw11-11-2026
- Does XEFI’s investment mean the team will have more money to sign riders, or is it mainly a sponsorship and naming change? And is Roglič expected to race much next season?jeremya11-11-2026
- If the roster is nearly complete, why bring up Roglič at all? Feels like the article is turning a firm “no” into a transfer rumour.andrewf11-11-2026
- Wuling is no joke—105 km of climbing to 3,275 metres is brutal. Five minutes off Dyball’s record is still an incredible ride.velodromevirtuoso111-11-2026
- Roglič at TotalEnergies would be a fascinating move, but Heulot sounds pretty clear that it isn’t happening. His experience could be a massive boost for the younger riders, though.jennifer1911-11-2026
- Eight riders told to go for stages, and nobody gets one—hard to know what the plan was there. It’ll be interesting to see whether they pick a clear leader next time.bikebuffj10-11-2026
