Van der Poel, who was riding his first race of the 2025-26 season, uncharacteristically waited until the final lap and an untimely crash by Thibau Nys (Baloise Glowi Lions), to pull away and notch his 12th cyclocross win in a row, and the 25th of his last 26 ‘cross races, dating back to January 2023. Brand unleashed another long solo ride on the first of seven laps and overcame a late flat tyre to win her sixth race in a row, her 10th of 12 races this season and her 53rd podium finish in succession.
Van der Poel battles, Nys crashes
But van der Poel didn’t have it easy, as he was dogged by Nys, Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen–Altez Industriebouw) and Nys’s teammate Lars van der Haar for nearly seven of the nine laps over the difficult course, which featured cobblestones, steep climbs and descents, and deep ruts. In addition, he crashed over his handlebars at the bottom of a descent, but it was on lap four of nine, and he had no trouble catching the lead group.
Nys was not so lucky as he crashed on a corner on the final lap, just when it appeared that the all-conquering van der Poel might have some stiff competition for a change and that the race might come down to a sprint. But the world champion attacked after Nys hit the deck and was never troubled again. Nys managed to take second, 9 seconds adrift, 2 seconds ahead of Vanthourenhout and 3 seconds in front of van der Haar.
But it was little consolation, and he pounded his handlebars in frustration when he crossed the line, well aware that he had lost a golden opportunity to dent van der Poel’s cloak of invincibility. This was the beginning of the Dutchman’s campaign to win a record eighth cyclocross world championship, and he is only going to get better as the season progresses. As van der Poel put it, “Last year, I was a bit further along thanks to specific training. This year, we planned that [for] a little later.” Still, Nys increased his lead in the World Cup standings to 110 to 93 for Vanthourenhout and Joris Nieuwenhuis (Ridley Racing).
Though he registered his fifth victory at Namur, van der Poel was not completely happy. “I tried to wait and see how things developed, but I made too many mistakes in the wheels,” he said afterwards. “Sometimes, it’s easier to ride on the front.”
Asked about the crash, he said that it was due to “a small steering error that I could just not correct anymore” and noted, “It was certainly not the easiest circuit to open my winter on. I had to find my rhythm a bit. I made an early decision to make my move at the end of the race, and I felt quite good at the end.”
Brand overpowers the field
In the Elite Women’s race, Lucinda Brand just did what she’s been doing this entire season: she overpowered her rivals. She took off midway on lap 1, and at the end of the lap led by 4 seconds over Amandine Fouquenet (Arkéa–B&B Hotels Women), who was quickest off the starting line, and 10 seconds over Aniek van Alphen (Seven Racing). At the end of lap 3, the lead had ballooned to 28 seconds over van Alphen and 33 seconds over another returnee, Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck), with Fouquenet at 40 seconds.
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At that point, it looked as if the race was done and dusted. But Brand had a flat on her front tyre on lap 4, which could have been catastrophic if it hadn’t occurred fairly close to the pit area, and she was able to limit her time loss to about 10 seconds. She crossed the finish line 43 seconds ahead of van Alphen, with Fouquenet 1:00 adrift. Pieterse started strong but tired and eventually lost a podium duel with Fouquenet, finishing fourth at 1:21. Yet another returnee, Jolanda Neff (Cannondale Factory Racing), finished fifth, at 1:42. Neff, the 2020 Olympic MTB cross-country gold medalist, hadn’t raced in a European cyclocross race since February 2019.
Asked about that flat tyre after the race, Brand said, “That was super stupid. But that can happen here. I just thought: I have to keep riding; if the wheel breaks, then it breaks, and I will take a new one. I had to run some corners, but I did slide away. But I had enough of a gap.”
About her early attack midway through lap 1, she said, “I felt really strong. I have never had such a good start here,” she said. But Fouquenet quickly took the lead and looked as if she were going to ride away. “She always has a great start,” Brand said. “I tried to ride my own pace,” she explained. Soon enough, she passed the French rider and was headed for victory. Brand said she was impressed by Fouquenet because, “You can blow yourself up in the first lap. But she finished third here, so a very good race from her.”
That was important for Fouquenet, who has yet to sign a contract for next year, as all the Arkéa–B&B Hotels teams will be shut down at the end of the year for lack of a sponsor. “It was a very strong start, but I may have gone a little too deep,” she said. “I had to recover a bit, but Aniek [Van Alphen] and Lucinda [Brand] were very strong. I’m happy with third place. For now, it’s my best season, with two podiums in the World Cup.” The third place at Namur follows a second place at the Flamanville World Cup a few weeks ago. But with only a few weeks left until she will be orphaned, she has a right to be a little desperate.
As her coach Léonard Cosnier told Le Telegramme, as cited by Cyclingnews, “It’s quite incredible that a girl of this level has still not found a team at this time of year.”
Top 5 Elite Men – Namur CX World Cup 2025
- Mathieu van der Poel, Alpecin Deceuninck 58:29
- Thibau Nys, Baloise Glowi Lions +0:09
- Michael Vanthourenhout, Pauwels Sauzen–Altez Industriebouw +0:11
- Lars van der Haar, Baloise Glowi Lions +0:12
- Emiel Verstrynge, Crelan–Corendon +0:42
Top 5 Elite Women – Namur CX World Cup 2025
- Lucinda Brand, Baloise Glowi Lions 52:23
- Aniek van Alphen, Seven Racing +0:43
- Amandine Fouquenet, Arkéa–B&B Hotels Women +1:00
- Puck Pieterse, Fenix-Deceuninck +1:21
- Jolanda Neff, Cannondale Factory Racing +1:42
