CyclistUCI Cyclocross World Championships 2026: Our form guideThe Cyclocross World Championships take place in Hulst from 30th January to 1st February. The Netherlands Mathieu van der Poel and Lucinda Brand are coming in hot having dominated their cyclocross seasons, with Van der Poel looking set to make history as the man with the most rainbow jerseys.To check out the course, check out our full preview. Here well go through the top contenders for the elite mens and womens races, analysing their form coming into Worlds.Elite WomenLucinda Brand (Netherlands)Gaetan FlammeLucinda Brand has been the woman to beat during this cyclocross campaign so much so that she won a whopping 18 times. Her most dominating wins came at Namur and Niel with gaps of 43 seconds and 47 seconds respectively. The Dutchwoman has a penchant for breaking away with such ferocity that no one can match her speed let alone overtake her.Only five people managed this season: Sara Casasola (Italy) at Overijse, Inge van der Heijden (Netherlands) at the European Championships, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Netherlands) at Zonhoven and the Netherlands National Championships, and Puck Pieterse (Netherlands) at Maasmechelen. Half of these come from her compatriots, but its hard to look past Brand for her second World Championship title even after she failed to reach the top step at the European or National Championships.That doesnt mean itll be impossibie to beat her. At least years World Championships, she finished second behind Fem van Empel in a top four lockout of Dutch riders. Van Empel isnt riding this time having put her career on pause. A blip on Brands results sheet recently comes from her tenth place at Maasmechelen, which ended her impressive streak of 63 consecutive podiums stretching over two years.Brand has her eyes on the prize for a potential first cyclocross rainbow jersey since 2021.Lucinda BrandAge: 36Elite Worlds participations: 9Best World Championships finish: 1st (2021)Wins in 2025/26: 18 2025/26 last five results 10th: World Cup Maasmechelen1st: World Cup Benidorm3rd: Netherlands National Championships2nd: World Cup Zonhoven1st: X2O Badkamers GP Sven NysPuck Pieterse (Netherlands)Billy Ceusters/Getty ImagesWhen does a rising star stop rising? Puck Pieterse is only 23 years of age but has been a force to be reckoned with for a while. Shes won three times this season at Diegem, Maasmechelen and Hoogerheide, the latter two coming in her last two races prior to the World Championships, so shes peaking at the right time.After winning the U23 title in 2022, she has consistently podiumed in the elite World Championships with a second place in 2023 and third places in 2024 and 2025. Its looking likely shell continue this streak.Puck PieterseAge: 23Elite Worlds participations: 3Best World Championships finish: 2nd (2023)Wins in 2025/26: 32025/26 last five results 1st: World Cup Hoogerheide1st: World Cup Maasmechelen2nd: Netherlands National Championships3rd: World Cup Zonhoven2nd: X2O Badkamers GP Sven NysCeylin del Carmen Alvarado (Netherlands)UCI CyclocrossCeylin del Carmen Alvarado began 2026 with a bang, winning three consecutive races at Mol, Zonhoven and the Dutch National Championships. Despite coming just short of the top step in the following two races in the run up to the World Championships, she did race to a close second behind winners Brand and Pieterse.Ceylin del Carmen AlvaradoAge: 27Elite Worlds participations: 6Best World Championships finish: 1st (2020)Wins in 2025/26: 3 2025/26 last five results 2nd: World Cup Maasmechelen2nd: World Cup Benidorm1st: Netherlands National Championships1st: World Cup Zonhoven1st: ZilvermeercrossAmandine Fouquenet (France)UCI CyclocrossIt feels as though 2025/26 has been a breakthrough year for Amandine Fouquenet, with more races, more podiums and her first wins outside of France. The 24-year-old claimed a big victory at Heusden-Zolder and run of form late this season has been incredible, with seven podiums out of a possible eight after that victory, and the other a near miss in fourth. It coincides with her having to find a new contract after the collapse of Arka-B&B Hotels, with Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouwscooping her up.Amandine FouquenetAge: 24Elite Worlds participations: 2Best World Championships finish: 10th (2025)Wins in 2025/26: 32025/26 last five results 3rd: Hoogerheide3rd: World Cup Maasmechelen3rd: World Cup Benidorm2nd: France National Championships4th: World Cup ZonhovenZoe Bckstedt (Great Britain)British Cycling21-year-old Zoe Bckstedt is kicking things up a notch with a participation in the womens elite field after sidestepping the option to go for a three-peat in the U23 race. Last year, the Welsh rider broke clear on the very first lap to storm to a second consecutive rainbow jersey in the age group event by 39sec ahead of Luxembourgs Marie Schreiber.The news of her stepping up to the elite race comes after an impressive fourth place at Hoogerheide, and begins another exciting chapter in a career littered with accolades, including junior and U23 World championships in both cyclocross and road. She has already claimed her first senior medal with gold in the mixed team relay at the 2025 Worlds.Zoe BckstedtAge: 21Elite Worlds participations: 0Best World Championships finish: N/A (2x 1st U23, 1x 1st Junior)Wins in 2025/26: 02025/26 last five results 4th: Hoogerheide8th: World Cup Maasmechelen10th: World Cup Benidorm10th: World Cup Zonhoven5th: Superprestige GullegemOther riders to watchShirin van Anrooij (Netherlands)Inge van der Heijden (Netherlands)Blanka Vas (Hungary)Sara Casasola (Italy) Related Posts UCI Cyclocross World Championships 2026 preview Pro Log: Vingegaard crashes in training; Vine wins Tour Down Under with fractured wrist; Strade Bianche reduces gravel sectors Cycling history in 6 items in the Vandystadt Collection 'There was never pressure to be in cycling, it was just what I wanted to do': Zoe Bckstedt interview Elite MenMathieu van der Poel (Netherlands)Gaetan FlammeMathieu van der Poel has been unstoppable this season. Victorious in 12 of the 12 races he entered, the flying Dutchman looks locked in to win an eighth Cyclocross World Championship. If he does so, hell make history by surpassing the record of seven he currently shares with Erik De Vlaeminckto stand alone.Van der Poel has hardly put a pedal wrong despite all thrown at him. Perhaps the race that defines his level-headedness among chaos the most came at the MaasmechelenWorld Cup, where he navigated two punctures to win a record-equalling 50 World Cup races.Mathieu van der PoelAge: 31Elite Worlds participations: 10Best World Championships finish: 1st (2015, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025)Wins in 2025/26: 122025/26 last five results 1st: Hoogerheide1st: World Cup Maasmechelen1st: World Cup Benidorm1st: World Cup Zonhoven1st: ZilvermeercrossTibor Del Grosso (Netherlands) Luc Claessen/Getty ImagesTibor Del Grosso was the rider to get the closest to Van der Poel this season, finishing second by three seconds at the Maasmechelen World Cup. He gave spectators a rare sight too by leading the pack as Van der Poel dealt with his punctures.The 22-year-old scored three victories in Heusden-Zolder, Diegem and the Dutch National Championships, none of which Van der Poel participated in. It will be a big challenge to overhaul the main favourite, but the two-time Dutch champion is in with a strong chance of being on the podium, already amassing two U23 World Championship titles (one of which came just last year).Tibor Del GrossoAge: 22Elite Worlds participations: 0Best World Championships finish: N/A (2x 1st U23)Wins in 2025/26: 32025/26 last five results 2nd: Hoogerheide2nd: World Cup Maasmechelen4th: World Cup Benidorm1st: Netherlands National Championships2nd: World Cup ZonhovenThibau Nys (Belgium)Billy Ceusters/Getty ImagesThibau Nys was always built for greatness, having grown up in cyclocross watching his dad Sven Nys dominating the sport. He made his mark early, winning the junior National, European and World Championship titles in 2020. Since then, he has gone on to win the 2023 U23 World Championship and his first elite title at the 2024 European Championship before scooping up six wins this season at Oudenaarde, Hamme, Tabor, Flamanville, Dendermonde and the Belgian Champs. He only just lost out on defending his European title with a close second place to Toon Aerts.His last races at Maasmechelen and Hoogerheide resulted in two finishes just off the podium behind Van der Poel, Del Grosso and Niels Vandeputte.Thibau NysAge: 23Elite Worlds participations: 2Best World Championships finish: 3rd (2025)Wins in 2025/26: 62025/26 last five results 4th: Hoogerheide4th: World Cup Maasmechelen2nd: World Cup Benidorm1st: Belgium National Championships19th: World Cup ZonhovenNiels Vandeputte (Belgium)UCI CyclocrossLike many on this list, Niels Vandeputte is a podium regular. He has claimed three wins and amassed 11 podiums this season, picking up steam with third places in his last two races at Maasmechelen and Hoogerheide.He is yet to hit the podium at a World Championships however, finishing 14th last year in Livin by over three and a half minutes.Niels VandeputteAge: 25Elite Worlds participations: 3Best World Championships finish: 7th (2023)Wins in 2025/26: 32025/26 last five results 3rd: Hoogerheide3rd: World Cup Maasmechelen5th: World Cup Benidorm3rd: Cyclocross Otegem4th: Belgium National ChampionshipsFelipe Orts (Spain)BelgaIts unfortunate for Felipe Orts that the World Championships wont be in Spain, because the 30-year-old thrives on home turf three of his four wins this season have come in Spanish races. He hasnt quite put it together at World Championships in the past, with his top result at the elite level a tenth in 2024. Theres time to turn it around, but this might not be the year.Felipe OrtsAge: 30Elite Worlds participations: 8Best World Championships finish: 10th (2024)Wins in 2025/26: 42025/26 last five results 6th: Hoogerheide5th: World Cup Maasmechelen3rd: World Cup Benidorm1st: Spain National Championships8th: World Cup ZonhovenOther riders to watchToon Arts (Belgium)Joris Nieuwenhuis (Netherlands)Michael Vanthourenhout (Belgium)The post UCI Cyclocross World Championships 2026: Our form guide appeared first on Cyclist.