Junior Émilien Belzile on the shock of first Euro ‘cross races

Émilien Belzile is racing ‘cross for the first time in Europe, and he’s learning just how different it is. He’s the current junior national champion, having taken a big win in Levis, Que. The race came down to a final sprint between Evan Moore and him, and he won the race with a bike throw.

Belzile, 16, has already impressed outside of Canada–having taken some impressive results stateside.

He had a solid 2024 under-19 cyclocross season, with standout performances including 2nd place finishes at Thunder Cross, both days of Kings CX, and Major Taylor Cross Cup Day 1, along with a 3rd place at the Pan-American Championships. He also consistently placed in the top 10 at the Trek USCX series, including two 5th place finishes.

Since then, he has travelled across the pond to begin his Euro season on the under-19 circuit.

Steady progression in Europe

His first result was a 38th place finish at the UCI World Cup Besançon on Dec. 29, followed by a 32nd place in Zonhoven and a 26th place in Hulst. His latest and best result came on Jan. 1, with a very impressive 5th place finish at the X2O Trofee Baal – GP Sven Nys.

Going into the races, he knew there would be some adjustment. But how much–he didn’t know.

Thibau Nys did a supersonic shoe change at his dad’s race

“I knew the courses in World Cups and Belgium would be different from those in Canada, but I never expected them to be this different,” Belzile said. “Racing in Europe is a whole other experience. The terrain, the spectators, and the level of competitors featuring riders from all over the world are on an entirely different level.”

The key differences from North America

Belzile says that in North America many of the ‘cross races quickly become a race with ones and twos–there’s little to no pack racing. In Europe, however, he says that is totally different. The relentless pace, he says, means you need to be vigilant from the start to finish.

“The field is incredibly strong and aggressive, and if you don’t hold your ground, you’ll get pushed around. The course obstacles are massive and impressive, providing a huge adrenaline rush,” he said.

Another marked difference is the fans. Belzile races for Stimulus – Trek–the same squad that was home to multiple world champion Bella Holmgren and her sister Ava. The twins now ride for WorldTour team, Trek-Lidl.
“The spectators in Europe take the race atmosphere to another level. I’ve never seen so many people cheering along the course,” he said. “Their energy pushes you to dig even deeper and pedal harder.”

The rush of the races

The courses have ranged in their level of technicality. Belzile says that he preferred Hulst, The Netherlands–which was his first UCI Cyclocross World Cup–due to the parcours.

“It was my first World Cup experience, so the nerves were defined there. The downhills on this course are massive and incredibly steep, and the little off-camber climbs added an extra layer of challenge and excitement to try staying on your bike,” he said. “All of these elements gave me an adrenaline rush that I had never experienced in a bike race before.”

There’s plenty of season left for Belzile. He is currently based out of Belgium and will be racing at the UCI World Cup Dendermonde on Jan. 5. Last year, the Dendermonde course was a messy, muddy race. However, after the Belgian stop, he heads south to get some miles. It’s more and more common for ‘cross riders to split up their season with volume training in warmer climes.

“After Dendermonde, I’m flying to Spain to train on the road and soak up some much-needed sunshine,” he said. “While I’m in Spain, I’ll participate in the Benidorm World Cup since it coincides with my time there. After that, I’ll head to the world championships.”

The 2025 UCI cyclocross championships take place in Liévin, France, at the end of January. Although Belzile definitely hopes to have a strong ride, he knows that with each race he is getting a little better, so he is being careful not to put too much pressure on himself.

This season so far he’s used the races to adjust to the pace and style of racing, he added.

“My goal for the rest of the cyclocross season is to keep learning as much as I can from the strong field of riders I’m competing with and to put in the best races I can with the skills and experience I’ve gained,” he said. With his results thus far, he is ranked 29th in the junior standings, but if he can continue with strong rides, that could change come the worlds.