How to watch Rochette, McGill, Pieterse and van der Poel at the UCI CX World Cup
Cyclocross action returns with 4 Canadians and some big names in Namur on Sunday
The 2025-2026 UCI CX World Cup returns in a big way on Sunday. Mathieu van der Poel and Puck Pieterse are starting their seasons, and there are four Canucks racing.
Sidney McGill will ride her third World Cup of the year, and will be joined by national champ Maghalie Rochette after a quick trip home. Rochette has been back in snowy Saint-Adèle, Que, riding her fat bike, riding on the trainer, and doing some tough workouts!
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Previously this season McGill was 15th in Italy, 32nd in France, and 19th in the Czech Republic. Rochette last raced in Tabor, finishing 17th.
There are two Canadians in the men’s race: Rhett Bates and Liam Sargent. This is the first World Cup for them this season.
The course
The Namur circuit, set on the slopes around its historic citadel, is a staple of the cyclocross season. It has hosted World Cup, Superprestige, and national championships. Known for its punishing climbs and technical demands, the course relies entirely on natural features. There are some steep descents to cobbled sections. Shaded, muddy, and often slippery, it is one of the toughest tests on the calendar. (Fun for us to watch…but not so fun for the riders!)
Along with van der Poel and Pieterse, Tibor del Grosso will also start his season in Belgium. When van der Poel races, the dynamic changes…and the rest of the field knows it.
European champion Toon Aerts said everyone knows it: “We know that from now until the world championships we are racing for second place. I have no illusions about that.”
Still, anything can happen. And it’s the reigning world champion’s first race back, so he may take it easy in the early laps…annnnnd then go nuclear, as he does.
Pieterse, who wants to get the same jersey her teammate van der Poel has (an elite arc-en-ciel type), said the course is a gooder. “Those banks, the technical bits — it’s a course I really enjoy,” she said. “It is one of the most beautiful courses of the winter.”
As for Rochette, the last time she raced Namur, she had a good run, finishing 10th in 2021. McGill’s best time there was in 2023, taking a solid 16th.
To watch the racing, head on over to FloBikes.com. Coverage begins with the elite women’s event at 7:30 a.m. EST. After a brief pause, the fellas will hit the dirt. Canadian Cycling Magazine will have a full report on both races, too.
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