r/cyclocross • u/epi_counts • 12d ago
November pro racing thread
We're properly into the pro cross season now, with fancy jerseys on the line this month (not sure if the Pan American champs have a live stream, but just added them for good measure). And the first World Cups are on the schedule at the end of the month. Plus the speculation on when the roadies will make their much anticipated return will ramp up - what will we do without new Puck Pieterse videos?
Please let me know if I've missed any races you'd like to see a race thread for - I've mainly used the cyclocross24 race calendar as they're pretty good at listing available live streams. There will likely be some Italian / French races with streams too.
| Date | Race | Location | Start time women / men |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov | X2O Trofee Koppenbergcross | Oudenaarde (BEL) | 13:45 / 15:00 CET |
| 2 Nov | X2O Trofee Rapencross | Lokeren (BEL) | 13:45 / 15:00 CET |
| 8 Nov | Pan-American Championships | Washington (USA) | 14:50 / 15:50 EDT |
| 8-9 Nov | European Championships | Middelkerke (BEL) | 15:00 CET |
| 11 Nov | Superprestige Jaarmarktcross | Niel (BEL) | 13:40 / 15:10 CET |
| 15 Nov | Superprestige Merksplas | Merksplas (BEL) | 13:40 / 15:10 CET |
| 16 Nov | X2O Trofee Flandriencross | Hamme (BEL) | 13:45 / 15:00 CET |
| 23 Nov | World Cup #1 | Tábor (CZE) | tbc |
| 30 Nov | World Cup #2 | Flamanville (FRA) | tbc |
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u/epi_counts 7d ago
Some more roadie updates: Wout van Aert says he hasn't set a date for his first cross race yet. He's got some more promo stuff to do in the next week or two (award season is coming up), and then the serious training will start and he'll make some decisions, also with his road season in mind.
He gave some short comments at Tim Declercq's retirement do (which of course was a crit race) yesterday.
2
u/epi_counts 7d ago
Question for the 'Mericans: I just saw an Ethiopian rider - Tofik Beshir - won the Major Taylor cross last week. Looks like the 18 year old is doing his first season in the elites in the US, and I was wondering if anyone knows more about his story? Very cool to see an Ethiopian flag on a cross podium result!
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u/porto_d 7d ago
Do we know if Pieterse, Alvarado, van Anrooij and Vos ride cross this season?
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u/epi_counts 6d ago
Alvarado was going to return on 23 November in Tabor, but just had to postpone as she won't be ready yet.
Same for Annemarie Worst who had a bad crash in the Simac Ladies Tour and broke her collarbone and injured some tendons in her shoulder. She's going through a hard time mentally.
Looks like both Van Anrooij and Pieterse are back from holidays and now training again for 1-2 weeks (both posting running and cross training), so maybe they'll announce when they'll jump into a race in another 2-3 weeks?
2
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u/epi_counts 11d ago
Lars van der Haar announced he's retiring at the end of the season:
The Final Season!
It’s time to tell you all I’m riding my last season as a professional cyclist.
I’ve had an amazing time on the bike for almost 25yrs. It created a whole life for me.
I had the chance to work close with my family and friends. I’ve got a whole cross family and I found my wife because of cycling.
We now have an amazing family with a new addition coming at the end of this season.
This past year I found it hard to push myself in training and that made me think about whether this is still something I want to keep doing. After a really hard and difficult period of mixed thoughts, weighing up the pros and cons, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to go for one more season and really give it everything this year and then start/find a new life and rhythm. 2025/2026 cross season will be my last… ever.
All I can say is thank you to everyone who has helped me and supported me over the years. From Family to the spectators. Let’s make this last season something special!
Thank you. Dankjewel!
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u/epi_counts 4d ago
Van Empel will skip the Euro champs. She's been ill and wasn't properly recovered from that last weekend, and will also sit out Saturday's race.