The Superprestige cyclocross series moves its traditional Noordzeecross finale from February to November as an evening race under floodlights in Middelkerke on Thursday, 5 November 2026.
Temperatures are capped at nine degrees Celsius, dropping to around five degrees by late evening with an easterly wind adding a severe chill along the North Sea coast. The coastal event now sits as the second round of an eight-event calendar, wedged between the opener in Overijse on 25 October and the Jaarmarktcross in Niel on 11 November. The scheduling reshuffle was prompted by the upcoming 2027 Cyclocross World Championships in Ostend at the end of January, forcing organizers to split West Flanders events and clear the calendar immediately before the world title races.
Middelkerke Overhauls Circuit for Evening Race
Start and finish lines have moved from the Westendelaan to the middle of Sportpark De Krokodil, directly on the strip that previously held the wooden barriers on the Middelkerke course. Riders face an immediate climb up the park’s largest hill right after the start flag, leaving the traditional sand section near the end of the lap to decide the contest.
Conditions along the North Sea coast will remain dry but cold.
Women are scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. GMT with a finish expected around 6:15 p.m., while the men’s race runs from 7:30 p.m. to roughly 9:30 p.m. Broadcasting coverage is set to run on HBO Max, with programming spanning from 5:25 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
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Stars Miss Mid-Week Twilight Event
World champion Lucinda Brand is skipping the Superprestige race so close to the European Championships, while Thibau Nys is absent from the start list as the mid-week evening slot immediately before a major championship keeps several star names off the start sheet.
Organizer Luc Verschueren addressed the scheduling friction surrounding the mid-week twilight format:
For now it’s still doable, because the championship in Zeddam is not that far. But if the riders have to go to the Czech Republic within two years, then not a single crosser will come at all. It seems to me something we can only survive once.
Luc Verschueren, organizer
Defending champion Amandine Fouquenet of Pauwels Sauzen – Altez returns alongside teammate Leonie Bentveld and top favorites Aniek van Alphen of 777 in a field of 29 riders. Additional contenders in the women’s bracket include Denise Betsema of De Ceuster, Hélène Clauzel of 777, Julie Brouwers of Charles Liègeois, Annemarie Worst of Baloise – Het Poetsbureau Lions, Lauren Molengraaf, Puck Langenbarg of Fenix-Premier Tech, and Inge van der Heijden.
Michael Vanthourenhout of Pauwels Sauzen – Altez enters the men’s race as a top favorite alongside challengers such as Joran Wyseure of Crelan-Corendon, Gerben Kuypers of Pauwels Sauzen – Altez, Felipe Orts of Euskaltel – Euskadi, Niels Vandeputte of Alpecin-Premier Tech, Jente Michels of Alpecin-Premier Tech, Mees Hendrikx of BOMBA JOIN, Witse Meeussen of Crelan-Corendon, Laurens Sweeck of Crelan-Corendon, Cameron Mason of 777, and Kevin Kühn of Heizomat-Cube.
Whether future editions will persist with the November evening slot when championship locations are further away remains unaddressed.