Dendermonde officially opens the 2026-2027 cyclocross season today. The three most anticipated protagonists from last winter will not be at the start: Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Thibau Nys, but the sport is restarting with a new generation ready to compete for space and victories.

The big question mark remains Mathieu van der Poel. After the bronze medal at the Montreal road World Championships, the Dutchman has not confirmed his return to the discipline that made him famous. «I don't know if there will be a comeback. We'll see», he stated. Van der Poel, the reigning world champion, could therefore skip the entire winter season: a decision that would deprive cyclocross of its main technical and media reference point.

More concrete appears instead the possibility of seeing Wout van Aert again. The Visma | Lease a Bike rider should return to racing in December, when the traditional Christmas season gets into full swing. The complete program has not yet been defined, but his return to cyclocross seems much more likely than Van der Poel's.

Thibau Nys will also not be at the start in Dendermonde. The Belgian had a demanding road season, culminating in participation in the Vuelta a España and the World Championships, and has chosen to postpone his debut compared to initial plans. Sven Nys's son was one of last winter's revelations and represents, together with Tibor Del Grosso, the most credible face of generational change.

In the absence of big names, the first seasonal challenge will offer space to riders already ready to collect points and prestige. Among the main candidates are Niels Vandeputte, Michael Vanthourenhout, Laurens Sweeck, Joris Nieuwenhuis and Felipe Orts. Del Grosso, protagonist of steady growth also on the road, should make his debut in November.

Toon Aerts will be missing, the reigning European champion: the Belgian broke his knee in July and had to undergo surgery. His return is expected no earlier than mid-December: he will therefore miss the initial part of the season. «My knee looked like a bowling ball», he had said describing the swelling after the injury.

Tom Pidcock will not be there either, who has chosen not to compete in cyclocross races this winter. For the Briton, already world champion in the discipline, the future in off-road racing also remains uncertain.

The first major international appointment will be the European Championships in Zeddam, in the Netherlands, on November 7 and 8. The course will largely follow the one used for the World Championships held in the locality in 2006, one of the historic cyclocross courses in Europe.

The most anticipated moment will arrive in Ostend, from January 29 to 31, 2027, for the World Championships. The course will return to combining beach and Wellington racecourse, as in the 2021 edition, with the addition of a passage through the old swimming pool area. Start and finish will once again be located at the racecourse.

The season confirms the three major international circuits: World Cup, Superprestige and X2O Trophy. Superprestige celebrates its 45th edition, X2O Trophy its 40th, while the World Cup reaches its 34th.

The World Cup and Superprestige standings will be determined by points. The X2O Trophy will continue to reward consistency through the sum of times.

The Christmas period will be less congested than last season, with thirteen races in eighteen days. The novelty is the Kerstcross, the "Christmas cross": the name will be reserved for the Superprestige race in Zolder, scheduled for December 25. Last year, right in Heusden-Zolder, Tibor Del Grosso had beaten Van Aert.

Cyclocross therefore restarts without its three brightest stars. But the absence of the "Big Three" could turn into an opportunity for a more open, competitive and unpredictable season. Waiting to see if, as winter approaches, Van Aert and Van der Poel will decide to return to the mud.