|		|	[M U23](https://chronorace.blob.core.windows.net/webresources/20250131_cro/liev_cro_mu_33_startorder.pdf)|	[13:00 (CET)](http://www.timebie.com/std/centraleuropean.php?q=13)	|	[U23 men](https://youtube.com/live/vUUlJA8l39M?feature=share) 	
|		|	[W Elite](https://chronorace.blob.core.windows.net/webresources/20250131_cro/liev_cro_we_32_startorder.pdf)|	[15:00(CET)](http://www.timebie.com/std/centraleuropean.php?q=15)	|	[elite women](https://youtube.com/live/PIqYUS2VBl4?feature=share)		

###Junior women favourites We're starting the day with the perhaps least predictable race. Canada's Rafaelle Carrier won the overall and two heats of the World Cup, but she was closely followed by Lise Revol of France who also won two heats. With Barbora Busková (fastest junior women's lap time yesterday) and Lidia Cusack close on their heels with a single World Cup win each.

And then there's riders like European champion Anja Grossmann or Mae Cabaca who have been less consistent, but really strong on a good day. And strong outsiders like Giorgia Pellizotti who has yet to win a race outside of Italy, but is always at the front in whatever cross she starts.

###U23 men favourites
AliExpress MvdP (aka Tibor del Grosso) already has an U23 World Title and in true MvdP fashion has been dominating the U23 scene this year: 6 U23 race starts and 6 U23 race wins. He is the man to beat today.

But the fight for the other medals might be more exciting. Jente Michels won the U23 European title (Del Grosso missed that race) and the rest of the Belgian team (Corsus, De Bruyckere, and Dockx) all podiumed in U23 World Cups this season. And then there's the French home riders with Bisiaux and Sparfel. Or perhaps Viezzi who set the fastest U23 lap time in the mixed relay and seems to be peaking at just the right time.

###Elite women favourites Maybe the most exciting race of the weekend. With Brand (35 podium finishes streak), Van Empel (defending World Champ), Pieterse (off road World Champion), Vas (last weekend's strongest rider) and maybe Alvarado (two 5th places last weekend on 'bad' days) if she has a good day, we've got more world title contenders than there are places on the podium in an elite race for the first time in ages.

The conditions on the day might sway the odds with more muddy conditions favouring Brand or Pieterse, and faster more rideable conditions favouring Van Empel and Vas.

But it's a championship so there are also always outsiders. Van der Heijden has had one of her strongest seasons yet and just missed out on so many podiums that today might be the day. Some mud might bring out the best in Norbert-Riberolle and Casasola seems to finally be recovered from the respiratory infection that sidelined her for a few weeks.

Does anyone have experience with the A-D Ubercross? I want to build a reasonably priced CX bike and the Ubercross frame caught my eye. I'm wondering what others think of it (assuming it's not too niche).

Who thinks Van Empel will win the Gold ? I do. Brand has looked brilliant the last few races but i think Fem will come good. Does Puck, Blanca and Ceylin realistically have any chance of winning?

#No broadcast, only live timing

Weather: 4C/40F, chance of more light rain

Just as with the World Cups, the World Champs are streamed by the UCI on Youtube. It's freely accessible for Canadians and Americans, and a whole bunch of other countries - anyone who's country doesn't have an official broadcaster (PDF warning).

Click on the timings to see it in your time zone

Used a canyon inflite sl6 for commuting and gravel / cyclocross rides. It was really fun, went for the cyclocross bike because I was scared a true gravel bike might be to boring for me. The bike got stolen so I have to look at others.

Cube crossrace slx 2025 (carbon wheels, handlebar and 2x ultegra / grx di2) Guess this would be the most similar in terms of fun and speed.

Pinarello Granger x3 disc (mechanical, carbon frame but everything else in aluminium)

Focus Atlas 8.7 (same as the pinarello)

I know that especially the focus is way more focused to relaxed gravel instead of fast and agile rides but then I never tried it and I may be wrong. Do you guys have any insights to these bikes or the general thinking ?

Pricinc btw is more or less the same, the cube is the most expensive but only 300€ more then the pinarello and another 100 to the focus.

What’s the scoop to watch worlds? I cancelled my FloSports a bit ago,

I can't be bother to read the email but looks like the Discovery+ is splitting Eurosport out of its standard offering and moving it all over to TNT (which just means you have to pay more for sports you're not going to watch). I will cancel my subscription.

Who lobbied the European Union to declare illegal streaming an organised crime activity? People are not stupid.

Edit: If you didn't receive your email check your spam box, that is where mine landed...

Just wanted to also add that there is a moral discussion to be had here too. It's not that there increase to 30.99 is just for what you're already paying. You're having to take a whole sports package to watch one sport - yeah sure some of us may like the other sports, but CX is literally the only sport I watch live these days outside of Tennis. So, that 30.99 is mostly funding football TV rights, which, we know is a cult in and of itself. And people will give up a chunk of their salary per month for football tickets and streaming. That is what you're competing against as a sports consumer.

It's Worlds week! Just a few days until we'll have 7 fresh new world champions, so I thought a thread to collects small news bits and general info might be helpful.

Race info:

• UCI World Championships race hub
• Official Worlds website
• Cyclocross24 race info
• Race entries (PDF warning)
• Official broadcasters Saturday
• Official broadcasters Sunday

Team info:

• Dutch selection (no mixed relay, No Vos)
• Belgian selection (Wout van Aert added - thread)
• Team GB selection (thread on no elite women making it)

I'll keep updating the thread throughout the week. And of course threads on team announcements and everything are very welcome, just hoping a pinned thread with an overview might help too.

The announcer in today's race at Hoogerheide mentioned that they were racing on the same hill where Neff and Prevot crashed on in 2018. (This was the steep downhill before the stairs, near the finish) But I remember that hill being a side hill/off camber feature, which I didn't see as part of the course at all today. Was this section eliminated recently or did I just not notice it in prior races?

Anyone have thoughts on the suitability of this bike for cross? It looks to be getting difficult to come by a pure cross bike in the US without spending more than I’m willing and so I’m looking for something with a more “cross-like” geo than most gravel bikes I see. This seems to fit the bill and wanted some thoughts from folks with more experience than I.

In comparing to most gravel bikes (including my own), this has a steeper head angle (71.5), higher BB (70mm drop) and shorter wheelbase (<1000mm). All of this seems to be better for cross than most of the gravel bikes I’m coming across these days and value for money seems decent. Thoughts?

My current bike is a Niner RLT 9, and while a great gravel bike, it’s getting a little long in the tooth. I’m in the market for something and since my intended use case is only training rides and cross, I’m looking for something better suited for some local cross racing.

https://www.bikesonline.com/superior-x-road-elite-gr-gravel-bike

Weather: meh, 6C/43F

###Course No changes to the course of the Grand Prix Adrie van der Poel. It's a fast course, with some nice technical sections and strategically placed planks, and of course the slightly uphill finishing straight. Hopefully the drone in the forest from the World Champs two years ago will make a reappearence.

###Women's favourites Van Empel won her first World title here two years ago, and won the World Cup last year, a real banger of a race where Van Empel and podium guarantee Brand looked to be going into the final together, only for Vas to come back at the last possible moment but just not having the legs on the drag to the finish.

Backstedt and Schreiber rounded out the top 5 last year, and will be battling it out today for the overall win in the U23s.

And then we'll Vos starting too, who's won here twice too, plus Pieterse and Alvarado (the latter might be allergic to Hoogerheide though, as the one course she's never done well on).

###Men's favourites It's the final race of the World Cup, and mathematically Aerts could still win, but barring some accidents that keep Van der Poel from his usual winning mood (they are a yearly tradition, and I'm not sure breaking your rib and not competing at all count) and knock Vanthourenhout back to his worst result of the season, the winner is known. There could be a bit of a fight for the last podium spot worth €16,000 between Wyseure who leads over Iserbyt by 7 points. Though an in form Wyseure will be hard to beat on a muddy course.

And then there's Nieuwenhuis who had a great day with his podium in Maasmechelen, so despite all the misery for 3/4 of the season, he might be finding his form just in time for the Worlds next weekend. Or riders like Nys, Vandeputte Sweeck if he's on a mud = wet sand day, or even Van der Haar who is one of the few people not named Van der Poel who's won here before.

Weather: grey, maybe some light rain and 7C/45F

###Course It's a fast narrow course on the old mining spoil tip in Maasmechelen. Riders had lots of complaints about the many, many rocks on the course after the first edition, plus a short but sketchy descent which caught several riders out. Things were improved in the second edition, though no one sounded very excited about the course yet. Third time lucky today?

###Women's favourites Van Empel has won 100% of the two World Cups here, but she's not invincible this year and Pieterse, Alvarado and Brand will all be keen to show they're able to beat her a week before the Worlds. Vos added today to her programme, and Vas finished just behind Vos in 5th place in the first edition of the race, so maybe they can revisit their Olympics collab.

Plus we'll have a fight for the U23 overall World Cup this weekend. Backstedt is leading over Schreiber by a meagre 6 points, and both today and tomorrow might be course more suited to Schreiber.

###Men's favourites Mathieu van der Poel

I didn't know that this existed until yesterday and have really enjoyed the interviews and insights that Lucinda and Maghalie provide. I found it on YouTube but they say it's on other podcast platforms too.

Just thought I'd spread the word.

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/racing/no-elite-women-met-selection-criteria-for-upcoming-cyclo-cross-world-championships-says-british-cycling

Hi, does anyone have experience with visiting the Maasmechelen world cup? Is it okay to get to by car? How much extra time should I calculate? Is it better to go by other transport? What is a nice spot at the circuit?

Any experiences are welcome. Thanks!

Hi,

I’m planning to attend the cyclocross race in Maasmechelen and was wondering if it’s allowed to bring a camera (Fujfilm X-T5) to take photos for private purposes? I don’t have any accreditation or special permissions, and I’m planning to stay in the regular spectator areas, not in any restricted zones.

I just enjoy photography as a hobby and would love to capture some memories from the event. Are there any rules or restrictions I should be aware of?

Thanks in advance for your help!

I'm running a pair of challenge limus tlr tyres on giant px2 wheels (wheels and tyres are both tubeless ready) but i am able to pinch the sidewalls of the tyres with my fingers (at 30psi) and air/sealant is leaking out.

When riding, the tyres pretty much go flat within minutes due to this burping/ side wall issue. The wheels were supplied with maxxis all terrane which had the same issue too. Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks!