On Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 November 2025, Middelkerke will be the setting for the European Cyclo-cross Championships. The European Championships are traditionally the first championships of the cyclo-cross season and will bring the best cyclo-cross riders to Middelkerke to compete for the champion’s jersey in white and blue with yellow stars.
Who will follow in the footsteps of Thibau Nys and Fem van Empel this autumn? Three years after the European Championships in Namur, the European Cyclo-cross Championships will once again be held in Belgium. This time, the battle for the European title will take place in Middelkerke.
Over the entire weekend, the military domain of Lombardsijde will serve as a unique location for the European Championships, and there will be stretches through the sand and dunes of Middelkerke. In 2022, the Belgian Cyclo-cross Championships were also held at the same location. Unfortunately, due to COVID, the battle for the tricolour jersey took place without an audience.
On Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 November, it promises to be a discovery of the unknown for all cyclo-cross fans in attendance, with the opportunity to see all the top riders of the cyclo-cross peloton and future cyclo-cross talents in action.
The European Cyclo-cross Championships are one of the top races on the international cyclo-cross calendar. The fact that this race will be held in Middelkerke is already a victory for Mayor Jean-Marie Dedecker. “Together with the organisers, we are ready to welcome tens of thousands of cyclo-cross enthusiasts to one of the most beautiful sites in Europe. And I’m not exaggerating, because the dunes, the beach and the imposing army barracks, do not only logistically but also visually make it an absolutely prime location. As far as I’m concerned, the European Championships will be a perfect opportunity for a great sporting weekend in Middelkerke with family or friends.”
Marc Descheemaecker, Councillor for Sport and a big cyclo-cross fan, has also circled the European Championships in fat marker in his diary. “The preparations have been underway for some time and are going very smoothly.” Descheemaecker predicts that the sports event will create fireworks. “Cyclo-cross riders give their all in every race, but when there’s a jersey to be won, the battle is even more intense. I know from a direct source that the 2022 Belgian Championships course was super tough. Together with a high-quality field of participants, all the ingredients will be there for some fantastic races.”
“Finally, we will be able to show the beautiful course at the Lombardsijde military domain to cyclo-cross fans,” says delighted Christophe Impens of organiser Golazo. “In January 2022, we had already organised the Belgian Cyclo-cross Championships, but unfortunately, due to COVID-19 measures, it had to be held behind closed doors. We are grateful to the municipality of Middelkerke and the Ministry of Defence for this opportunity.”
Enrico Della Casa, President of the European Cycling Union (UEC): “The European Cyclo-cross Championships are among the most eagerly awaited events of the entire continental calendar. Not only because of the sporting value of a championship, but also because of the extraordinary passion that cyclo-cross always manages to generate. In 2025, the municipality of Middelkerke will host this top event in the heart of a country that lives and breathes cyclo-cross like no other. We are delighted and proud to return to a country that represents the past, present and future of this discipline. I would like to thank the municipality of Middelkerke, its Mayor Jean-Marie Dedecker, all local authorities, the Belgian Cycling Federation with its president Tom Van Damme, Golazo under the leadership of Bob Verbeeck and Christophe Impens as organisational guarantor for major cycling events, and all parties who will contribute to the organisation of this wonderful cyclo-cross event. I am convinced that we will experience some unforgettable days, entirely in keeping with the tradition and expectations of Belgian and European supporters.”
Programme Saturday 8 November 2025:
• 11:00 – 11:45 Women Juniors
• 13:00 – 13:55 Men’s U23
• 15:00 – 15:50 Women’s Elite
Programme Sunday 9 November 2025:
• 11:00 – 11:50 Men’s Juniors
• 13:00 – 13:50 Women’s U23
• 15:00 – 16:05 Men’s Elite
