Superprestige Merksplas 2026 Preview | Cameron Mason looks to win again; Lucinda Brand a question mark
Cyclocross
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Follow us on Google♻️Calm has returned after the European Cyclocross Championships, so the focus is shifting back to the upcoming races. Next up: the Superprestige in Merksplas on Saturday November 14. A true classic, with a beautiful course for the sand specialists. Can Joris Nieuwenhuis and Lucinda Brand repeat their 2025 feat? Or can Cameron Mason ride the wave of his first victory? IDL Pro Cycling looks ahead.
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Recent Winners of the Superprestige Aardbeiencross Merksplas
2025 Joris Nieuwenhuis / Lucinda Brand
2024 Laurens Sweeck / Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
2023 Joris Nieuwenhuis / Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
2022 Laurens Sweeck / Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
2021 Eli Iserbyt / Lucinda Brand
2020 Michael Vanthourenhout / Lucinda Brand
2019Not held
2018 Mathieu van der Poel / Sanne Cant
2017 Mathieu van der Poel / Sanne Cant
2016 Mathieu van der Poel / Sophie de Boer
2024 Laurens Sweeck / Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
2023 Joris Nieuwenhuis / Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
2022 Laurens Sweeck / Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
2021 Eli Iserbyt / Lucinda Brand
2020 Michael Vanthourenhout / Lucinda Brand
2019
2018 Mathieu van der Poel / Sanne Cant
2017 Mathieu van der Poel / Sanne Cant
2016 Mathieu van der Poel / Sophie de Boer
Course, weather, and times, 2026 Superprestige Aardbeiencross Merksplas
A revamped course for the Aardbeiencross. The start and finish stretch remains the same, on Kapelstraat. The first sections also resemble the 2025 course, but the route has become a bit more winding.
After that first section, there’s a flight of stairs on the road. Previously, the route would head straight into the woods at that point, but that section is now skipped.
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As a result, the course has become much more compact, and there’s more twisting and turning. There are still some small barriers just before the pit stop.
Then the final stretch begins, featuring a tricky and often decisive sandy section leading up to the last series of turns. After that, the race turns onto Kapelstraat again.
Read more below the photo!
Weather
It’s finally getting really cold again, and we’re noticing it on the cyclocross course, too. In Merksplas, temperatures will start below freezing, but the riders will be racing in about six degrees. No rain, and just a light breeze.
It’s finally getting really cold again, and we’re noticing it on the cyclocross course, too. In Merksplas, temperatures will start below freezing, but the riders will be racing in about six degrees. No rain, and just a light breeze.
Times
Women's start: 12:40 p.m GMT / 7:40 a.m ET
Women’s finish: 1:30 p.m GMT / 8:30 a.m ET
Men’s start: 2:10 p.m GMT / 9:10 a.m ET
Men’s finish: 3:10 p.m GMT / 10:10 a.m ET
Women's start: 12:40 p.m GMT / 7:40 a.m ET
Women’s finish: 1:30 p.m GMT / 8:30 a.m ET
Men’s start: 2:10 p.m GMT / 9:10 a.m ET
Men’s finish: 3:10 p.m GMT / 10:10 a.m ET
Women's Favourites: Superprestige Aardbeiencross Merksplas 2026
Lucinda Brand was the winner of the Aardbeiencross last year, and she is once again the top favorite at the start. Thanks to the absence of her European Championship rival Marie Schreiber (SD Worx-Protime) and the injured Ceylin Alvarado (Fenix-Premier Tech)—a three-time winner—the world champion suddenly faces a lot less competition.
Of course, it remains to be seen whether Brand will be there, after her crash in Niel. There, Manon Bakker (Velosport Veluwe) was, somewhat surprisingly, the winner. Be sure to keep an eye on her again, as well as that day’s runner-up, Sara Casasola (Crelan-Corendon). Together with Inge van der Heijden and Kristyna Zemanova, she forms a strong trio. Pauwels Sauzen - Altez also has several contenders in the mix with Amandine Fouquenet and Leonie Bentveld.
Aniek van Alphen (777) is in top form and also has the support of Hélène Clauzel. Denise Betsema (De Ceuster) has also gotten off to a strong start in her cyclocross season and hopes to cap it off with a victory. Julie Brouwers (Charles Liègeois) consistently ranks among the top fifteen, but rarely breaks into the top ten.
Read more below the photo.
Is Lucinda Brand back in action after her injury against Niel?
IDL Pro Cycling top picks, 2026 Superprestige Aardbeiencross Merksplas - women's
Top Favorite: Lucinda Brand (Baloise-Het Poetsbureau Lions)
Dark horses: Aniek van Alphen (777), Sara Casasola (Crelan-Corendon), and Manon Bakker (Veloclub de Veluwe)
Long shots: Inge van der Heijden, Kristyna Zemanova (Crelan-Corendon), Amandine Fouquenet, Leonie Bentveld (Pauwels Sauzen-Altez), Julie Brouwers (Charles Liègeois), Hélène Clauzel (777), and Denise Betsema (De Ceuster)
Dark horses: Aniek van Alphen (777), Sara Casasola (Crelan-Corendon), and Manon Bakker (Veloclub de Veluwe)
Long shots: Inge van der Heijden, Kristyna Zemanova (Crelan-Corendon), Amandine Fouquenet, Leonie Bentveld (Pauwels Sauzen-Altez), Julie Brouwers (Charles Liègeois), Hélène Clauzel (777), and Denise Betsema (De Ceuster)
Men's Favourites: Superprestige Aardbeiencross Merksplas 2026
European champion Thibau Nys will be in Hamme on Sunday, but he’s skipping the Merksplas sand race. So we’ll be watching the other cyclocross riders, who rarely miss a race. Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen - Altez) is one of them. The Belgian started the cyclocross season in top form but has struggled a bit in the last week. Can he get back on track?
It won’t be easy for him. Joris Nieuwenhuis (Heizomat-Cube) is consistently just below the top, but he’s returning to a race where he was the best last year. He’s joined by Kevin Kühn, who’s in top form. As usual, Alpecin-Premier Tech is counting on Niels Vandeputte and Jente Michels, while Felipe Orts (Euskaltel - Euskadi) is back in the mix as well.
Read more below the photo!
Can Cameron Mason repeat Niel's feat?
Cameron Mason (777) won his very first televised cyclocross race in Niel and hopes to keep the momentum going, especially as the leader of the Superprestige standings. Joran Wyseure had some bad luck there, but he hopes to shine again alongside his Crelan-Corendon teammates Laurens Sweeck (two-time winner in Merksplas) and Witse Meeussen. Gerben Kuypers (Pauwels Sauzen - Altez) hopes to do better after his disappointing day at the European Championships.
Laurens ten Dam’s BOMBA JOIN men’s team is back in action, represented by Mees Hendrikx and Ryan Kamp. Cyclocross sensation Giel Lejeune (Alpecin-Premier Tech) will not be competing in this race.
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IDL Pro Cycling top picks, 2026 Superprestige Aardbeiencross Merksplas - men's
Top Favorites: Joran Wyseure (Crelan-Corendon) and Joris Nieuwenhuis (Heizomat-Cube)
Dark horses: Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Altez), Cameron Mason (777), Felipe Orts (Euskaltel-Euskadi), and Kevin Kühn (Heizomat-Cube)
Long shots: Niels Vandeputte, Jente Michels (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Laurens Sweeck, Witse Meeussen (Crelan-Corendon), Mees Hendrikx, Ryan Kamp (BOMBA JOIN), and Gerben Kuypers (Pauwels Sauzen-Altez)
Dark horses: Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Altez), Cameron Mason (777), Felipe Orts (Euskaltel-Euskadi), and Kevin Kühn (Heizomat-Cube)
Long shots: Niels Vandeputte, Jente Michels (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Laurens Sweeck, Witse Meeussen (Crelan-Corendon), Mees Hendrikx, Ryan Kamp (BOMBA JOIN), and Gerben Kuypers (Pauwels Sauzen-Altez)
How to watch the 2026 Superprestige Aardbeiencross Cross Merksplas on TV
The broadcast rights for the Superprestige in Belgium are held by Play Sports and Proximus Pickx. HBO Max/TNT Sports offers coverage, with a broadcast also starting at 12:30 p.m GMT.
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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 not sure how WorldTour licences work—could these reports affect whether the team gets one next year, or is that decision based on other criteria?velodromevirtuoso113-11-2026
- Pointing to three former riders doesn’t settle what nearly 100 people have reportedly shared. Hopefully the review looks at the team’s systems and culture, not just whose version of events sounds more convincing.julien13-11-2026
- Eight questions or 23? That’s a pretty significant difference in the accounts, and it’d be useful to know exactly what was sent and when.robert6513-11-2026
- Kittel’s position sounds more nuanced than Spekenbrink suggests: he didn’t endorse the “culture of fear” label, but still called for the team to be looked at critically. That distinction matters.bikebuffj13-11-2026
- The independent investigation is the important bit now. It needs to give current staff a safe way to speak honestly, not just become another round of public statements.michael5413-11-2026
- One Lombardia doesn’t tell us how Seixas will handle a full Grand Tour. I’d rather see him develop steadily than have every result turned into a Pogačar comparison.samanthak12-11-2026
- Pogacar is 30 already? I thought he was younger. If he keeps winning like this, how long can he realistically ride at the top?jeremya12-11-2026
- Interesting that Thomas made the comparison while speaking to Rowe, given Decathlon’s hopes of keeping Seixas and the reports linking INEOS with him. Praise, or a subtle message to a potential signing?gearguru3312-11-2026
- Seixas winning Il Lombardia at this age is a huge statement. The Pogačar comparisons are inevitable, but Thomas is right to leave room for both of them to keep improving—Pog is still setting the bar.robert6512-11-2026
- A fascinating career, but the article leans heavily on his side of the story. Were the three disqualifications all for the same equipment rule, or were there different issues each time?michael5412-11-2026