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Follow us on GoogleThe cyclo-cross of Zonhoven
guarantees spectacle, especially with the infamous 'pit' in the course. The descent through the sand is very technical, and the smallest mistake can have major consequences. So also knows Annemarie Worst. The 29-year-old cyclo-cross rider from Cyclo-cross Reds crashed heavily and had to abandon the race. It turned out afterward that the crash had major consequences.
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Worst announced on Instagram. "My day started well, like I felt during the last races," she says. "My condition was improving a lot, and with every race, I felt stronger. But it ended brutally today with a crash in the kuil in Zonhoven. With the crash, I broke two bones in my hand, so now it's the first time for surgery this Tuesday." So, it was a significant setback for Worst, who will be out for a while. It is not known precisely how long she can't race. She competed with the best on Saturday, but out of sight, she crashed hard to the ground.
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Worst not the only one with bad luck: Van Empel also out for several matches
The women's cyclo-cross peloton lost a second top rider in a short time. World champion Fem van Empel had to cancel the races in Hulst and Zonhoven due to a crash while training. She had knee problems and took precautions. As a result, she was immediately eliminated from the World Cup: she would be so far behind leader Lucinda Brand that she could not compete for the overall title.
Gerben Kuypers and Witse Meeussen were unlucky in the men's event in Namen. They crashed during the section around the infamous Citadel. Both men broke their collarbones. So, for them, the cyclo-cross season is already over. For Kuypers, it was a big setback, but he is already looking ahead to the road season when he wants to make progress with Intermarché-Wanty. "I want to put this into perspective and shift my focus to my road season with the WorldTour team, for which I have nice ambitions," he told me last week.
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Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- - I’m still learning how cyclocross works: when he says he messed up the start at the Europeans, can a bad start really make that much difference?patriciaw14-11-2026
- - Love that he’s honest about the pressure. Hopefully he can carry this form through the winter.lindae14-11-2026
- - Beating different competition is the key now. Nys is already in the mix, and Van der Poel could make the next step a much tougher one.jennifer1914-11-2026
- - About time—Mason’s been knocking on the door for years. That Niel win could really open things up for him.cadencekingm14-11-2026
- I’m still learning how cyclocross works—does leading the Superprestige mean Mason is top of that race series, rather than the World Cup? Either way, winning in Belgium sounds like a massive result.cadencekingm13-11-2026
- Calling Onley a contender for an overall Tour win already feels a bit premature, especially after the injury setbacks. Still, the depth of talent is exciting.robert6513-11-2026
- Great to see Dickson’s route from triathlon to the WorldTour getting recognition. Scottish cycling has plenty to be proud of, and the 2027 Grand Départ could give the next generation a real lift.patriciaw13-11-2026
- The article makes a good case for clubs and small teams doing the groundwork, rather than one big development pipeline. Thornley’s Vuelta time trials were seriously impressive too; missing a stage win by two seconds is brutal.davidm13-11-2026
- Mason winning in Niel is huge—beating that kind of Belgian field in the mud takes serious class. The Kelvingrove World Cup could be an unforgettable homecoming.breakawaybikerd13-11-2026
- 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