- \n
- The MVDP Express Speeds On as Wout Double-Flats at Loenhout<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
RACE NEWS<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- When the Cat\u2019s Away\u2026Del Grosso, Pieterse Win at Diegem<\/li>\n
- Brand Wins\u00a0Yet Again at Louenhout<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
RIDER AND TEAM NEWS<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Archie Ryan Extends Contract with EF Education-Easy Post<\/li>\n
- Ekoi: Cyclocross\u2019 New \u2014 but Temporary \u2014 Team<\/li>\n
- Visma | Lease a Bike Unveils New \u201cSkin\u201d<\/li>\n
- \u201cSandman\u201d Sweeck Out for Remainder of Season After Crash at Loenhout<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"TOP](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/header-top-story-920.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe MVDP Express Speeds On as Wout Double-Flats at Loenhout<\/strong><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/loenhout-cyclocross-2025-van-der-poel-winning.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFinally we were getting the matchup we\u2019d longed for \u2014 until we weren\u2019t.<\/p>\n
On a fast course at Loenhout \u2014 where Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert had, between them, won the last eight World Cup races \u2014 van Aert seized the lead on the second lap, seemingly determined to muster a stronger performance than in his first three showings this season, and finally to give van der Poel a run for his Lambo-level money.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/loenhout-cyclocross-2025-van-aert-van-der-poel.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSoon, however, we saw van Aert\u2019s head dipping, possibly in exhaustion or frustration \u2014 but no; he was checking a deflating rear tire.<\/p>\n
As Wout rode most of a lap to the pit, where he mounted a new bike just in time to latch on to the trailing pack of pure \u2018crossers, van der Poel built a typically insurmountable lead \u2014 a lead that became especially insurmountable after van Aert, who had moved into the lead of the chasers, noticed\u00a0another puncture \u2014 evidently courtesy of the same rock.<\/p>\n
Who\u2019s this guy\u2019s tire sponsor? Or\u2026who\u2019s his mechanic?<\/p>\n
Likely van der Poel would have won this race regardless of the condition of van Aert\u2019s tires; he\u2019s looked dominant (that word again\u2026) all season, while Wout has failed even to beat non-galactico rivals. Still, van Aert appeared confident and technically clean prior to the punctures, and we road fans thus missed out on a treat of a race between these year-round competitors.<\/p>\n
Behind the world champion, Niels Vandeputte secured second place, completing an Alpecin-Deceuninck one-two finish. Joris Nieuwenhuis claimed third, while van Aert\u2019s day ended in disappointment with a tenth-place finish.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/loenhout-cyclocross-2025-van-aert.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe victory represents van der Poel\u2019s 18th consecutive cyclocross win, cementing his status as the dominant force this season as he builds toward February\u2019s World Championships in Li\u00e9vin.<\/p>\n
RACE NEWS<\/p>\n
When the Cat\u2019s Away\u2026Del Grosso, Pieterse Win at Diegem<\/strong><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/diegem-cyclocross-2025-del-grosso-winning.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/p>\nWith Mathieu van der Poel and Lucinda brand skipping the event, Tibor Del Grosso secured his second consecutive Superprestige victory at the traditional evening race in Diegem on Tuesday, while Puck Pieterse claimed her first win of the cyclocross season.<\/p>\n
Racing under floodlights at one of the winter season\u2019s most distinctive venues, the men\u2019s race delivered high drama. Del Grosso and Thibau Nys initially controlled the race, though as the two traded leads, Joran Wyseure rallied to create a three-way battle for victory. At one point it appeared that Nys would ride away, as both Del Grosso and Wyseure stumbled on a steep ramp. Soon afterwards, though, Nys crashed heavily in the course\u2019s sandy stretch and took Wyseure down with him, allowing Del Grosso to escape. Though Nys mounted a brief challenge on the Regimentsberg climb, he couldn\u2019t sustain the effort. Del Grosso held firm to win ahead of Wyseure by two seconds, with Nys, who appeared utterly deflated, taking third at 20 seconds.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/diegem-cyclocross-2025-del-grosso.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/p>\nIn the women\u2019s race, Pieterse dominated from start to finish despite a late scare. The Dutch champion and Marie Schreiber rode clear early, with the sand section creating crucial separation. Pieterse\u2019s superior sand riding gave her a consistent advantage, though a puncture approaching the final laps briefly allowed Schreiber to close the gap. Once back on her bike, Pieterse quickly reestablished control and crossed the line 11 seconds ahead of Schreiber, with teammate Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado completing the podium at 47 seconds.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/diegem-cyclocross-2025-pieterse-winning.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/p>\nBoth races unfolded without stars van der Poel, Brand, and Wout van Aert, opening the competition and delivering thrilling racing to the large crowds who attended the iconic nighttime event.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Brand Wins\u00a0Yet Again at Louenhout<\/strong><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/louenhout-cyclocross-brand-winning.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDutch rider Lucinda Brand continued her remarkable dominance in women\u2019s cyclocross by claiming victory at the X2O Trofee event in Loenhout, Belgium on Monday. The win marked Brand\u2019s 12th consecutive victory and 16th of the season, further cementing her position atop the sport.<\/p>\n
Unlike many of her recent commanding solo performances, Brand faced a tactical battle with a small group of rivals on Loenhout\u2019s greasy circuit. After a poor start, the Baloise Glowi Lions rider patiently worked her way to the front, taking the lead for the first time after two laps. The race remained competitive throughout, with Czech champion Kristyna Zemanov\u00e1 proving to be Brand\u2019s most persistent challenger.<\/p>\n
Brand adapted her setup as conditions worsened, switching to a coarser tire profile to generate more power. Her decisive move came in the final lap, where she accelerated clear to win by five seconds over Zemanov\u00e1, with Manon Bakker finishing third.<\/p>\n
The victory extended Brand\u2019s lead in the X2O Badkamers Trofee standings to over nine minutes, putting her within reach of clinching the overall title at the next event in Baal.<\/p>\n
TEAM AND RIDER NEWS<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/pezcyclingnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-19-at-1.46.18\u202fPM-300x45.png\")
<\/p>\nArchie Ryan Extends Contract with EF Education-Easy Post<\/strong><\/p>\n
![\"Coppi](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/coppi-e-bartali24st4-ryan-win-1000.jpg\")
<\/p>\nEF Education-EasyPost has announced that Archie Ryan has agreed to extend his contract with the team.<\/p>\n
Ryan joined EF Education-EasyPost in 2024, and after two years, the 23 year-old has inked a new deal that will see him race in pink for the coming seasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cEF Education-EasyPost believed in me right from the very start. When I came to the team, I\u2019d had a long period of injury, and the team gave me the opportunity to turn things around and grow. Ever since then, I\u2019ve felt right at home,\u201d Archie said after signing his contract extension.<\/p>\n
Since joining the team, Ryan has achieved several notable top-ten finishes and made his grand tour debut at the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a. For Ryan, the decision to extend his contract with the team came down to two key factors: the environment within the team and where he felt his development would be best supported.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that it\u2019s a happy accident that some of my best friends before I joined the team are here. It works really well. In my first year with the team, it felt like I had one of my best mates with me at every race I went to, and as I got to know everyone else, that feeling hasn\u2019t changed. They\u2019re a great group of people, and when I look at other teams, I just know that I fit with this team the best,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ekoi-header-2026.jpg\")
<\/p>\nEKO\u00cf: Cyclocross\u2019 New \u2014 but Temporary \u2014 Team<\/strong><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ekoi-team-photo-2026.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTeam EKO\u00cf is cyclocross\u2019 newest team, constructed \u2014 temporarily \u2014 around Dutch rider Ryan Kamp, as well as Lauren Molengraaf and H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Clauzel.<\/p>\n
EKO\u00cf\u2019s press release describes the three riders has each having \u201ca career path that has not always followed the obvious route.\u201d<\/p>\n
The team has been deemed a \u201cbridging project,\u201d a temporary structure that allows the three riders to race competitively through the 2025-2026 season. The project\u2019s chief sponsors are EKO\u00cf and Colnago, which will provide equipment, as well as visibility.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Visma | Lease a Bike Unveils New \u201cSkin\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/visma-kit-2026-van-aert-vingegaard.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTeam Visma | Lease a Bike has unveiled its new kit for the 2026 season. Under the tagline New Season, New Skin, the release marks the start of a new cycling year. The kit has been designed with a focus on performance and comfort for the riders, while ensuring visibility for fans along the road and on screen.<\/p>\n
The kit was developed in collaboration with Nimbl, further expanding an existing partnership. While Nimbl was already responsible for the team\u2019s cycling shoes, the brand now also provides high-performance on-bike apparel.<\/p>\n
Richard Plugge, General Manager of Team Visma | Lease a Bike, is enthusiastic about the new kit: \u201cA new season always means evaluating, improving, and building further. Our 2026 kit reflects that approach: recognizable in who we are, yet with attention to detail and development. Together with our partners, we continue to explore ways to support our riders in achieving their best performance.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSandman\u201d Sweeck Out for Remainder of Season After Crash at Loenhout<\/strong><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/antwerp-cyclocross-25-sweeck-sand.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/p>\nLaurens Sweeck\u2019s presence was notably missed when Thibau Nys was struggling in the sand at Diegem: The \u201cSandman\u2019s\u201d cyclocross season had ended abruptly after a devastating crash at the X2O Trofee race in Loenhout on Monday. The Belgian rider, who was leading the World Cup standings with 186 points, suffered a severe acromioclavicular luxation requiring immediate surgery.<\/p>\n
The timing couldn\u2019t be worse for Sweeck. He crashed while not in contention during a race where he had no particular ambitions, yet the consequences proved catastrophic. Medical examinations revealed the shoulder dislocation was severe enough to end his season, forcing him to withdraw from all remaining World Cup events.<\/p>\n
This development dramatically shifts the championship picture. Mathieu van der Poel sits fourth with 160 points and is scheduled to race all four remaining events. With Sweeck sidelined and second-place Thibau Nys having already skipped two races, van der Poel now appears nearly unstoppable in his pursuit of the World Cup title.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Watch the PEZ YOUTUBE Channel here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Longing to ride in warmer climes \u2014 and to relax in a bike-friendly hotel? Check out Rich\u2019s review of the bike Hotel Residence Esplanade in Viareggio<\/a><\/strong>, Italy.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u2022 Gotta Comment, thought or suggestion?\u00a0 Drop us a line at [email\u00a0protected]<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
See PEZ FACEBOOK here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
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