Benidorm prepares to host the penultimate Cyclocross World Cup round, set for next Sunday, January 21, on a circuit framed by Foietes and El Moralet parks, beside the Guillermo Amor football field. The event returns to the Costa Blanca as a showcase of the sport, drawing the world’s best male and female cyclocross riders to this iconic venue.
As in previous seasons, the Benidorm-Costa Blanca World Cup will feature top-tier competition from the world’s most accomplished riders, delivering a high-caliber showdown for fans who travel to witness elite cycling live. There will be world-class participation across both genders, highlighting the depth of talent in this discipline.
The centerpiece of the weekend is the anticipated presence of the trio often dubbed the sport’s biggest stars: Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, and Tom Pidcock. Van der Poel, a Belgian rider who races under the Dutch flag, returns as last year’s winner in Benidorm. Van Aert, also Belgian, is celebrated as one of the sport’s most enduring champions and a proven force in cyclocross and road racing. Pidcock, from the United Kingdom, stands out as a versatile rider who has excelled on multiple surfaces, including cyclocross, mountain biking, and road racing. Their rivalry promises a memorable duel on the Benidorm course.
Van Aert, Van der Poel and Pidcock headline the Benidorm World Cup once more
Indeed, these three athletes have spent the season balancing cyclocross and road duties, competing in a handful of events and descending on Benidorm for the final stages of the season. The event marks a significant moment as it serves as the last World Cup stop in this city for the year, intensifying the competition and the crowd’s anticipation.
Mathieu van der Poel (born 1995, Kapellen, Belgium) is widely regarded as an icon in modern cycling. With five rainbow jerseys and more than 37 wins, his influence stretches across cyclocross and road racing. He has claimed the World Cup title more than once and is lauded as one of the sport’s supreme specialists, with additional road successes including victories in Tours of Flanders, Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix, Strade Bianche, Amstel Gold Race, and stages of the Tour de France. He also wore the World Champion jersey in Glasgow last August and has held European mountain biking titles, underscoring his multi-disciplinary prowess.
Wout van Aert (born 1994, Herentals, Belgium) stands among cycling’s brightest stars. A master of cyclocross, he is a three-time world champion and multiple overall World Cup winner. His achievements include road victories at Milan-San Remo, Amstel Gold Race, and Strade Bianche, along with nine Tour de France stages. Known for wearing the iconic green jersey on the Tour, he has collected numerous World Cup medals across his career.
Tim Pidcock (born 1999, Leeds, United Kingdom) epitomizes the current generation of multidisciplinary riders who excel in cyclocross, mountain biking, and road racing. In addition to World Cup successes, he claimed Olympic mountain bike gold in Tokyo and has held the world championship in cross-country mountain biking. His road wins include notable results such as Bianchi Street and Brabant, with stage victories in major tours. His presence adds an extra layer of prestige to the Benidorm lineup.
Alongside the “Big Three,” the first division of the World Cup will feature a strong Benidorm field with leaders in the general classification. Belgian rider Ely Iserbyt sits atop the standings, followed by fellow Belgians Joris Nieuwenhuis and Dutchmen Ronhaar and Lars van der Haar in a tightly contested race order. On the Spanish side, Alicante will be represented by Felipe Orts from Villajoyosa, who recently claimed his sixth consecutive national title in Amurrio, and Galician rider Kevin Suárez, both aiming to shine on home ground.
Felipe Orts: “I never imagined I could become a six-time Spanish champion”
Pascual Momparler, head of Momparler Bicycle Company, oversees the organization of the UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Benidorm on the Costa Blanca. The event brings together a field of world-class athletes and invites fans to witness racers pass by at close proximity, repeatedly presenting an up-close look at high-level competition. This edition marks the final duel of the season for many riders, as some do not travel to the World Cup beyond Benidorm. The organizers highlight that Benidorm remains a rare opportunity to see top-tier cycling in Spain and to witness the world’s best cyclists in person.
Women’s category
In the women’s division, a robust field is expected as well, with Dutch rider Femke Empel defending the Foietes-El Moralet circuit title from the previous year. Her compatriots are joined by Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, Puck Pieterse, Inger van der Heijden, Lucinda Brand, and Manon Bakker. On the British side, Zoe Backstedt is anticipated to contend for the World Cup lead. Spanish riders will also be out in force, including Lucía González from Biscay and Sofía Rodríguez from Ontinyent, both aiming for strong results as they pursue the national series and global standings.
The elite men’s race is scheduled to start at 15:10, with the women’s event following at 13:40. As in recent years, the Benidorm circuit is expected to attract a full crowd, turning the Costa Blanca’s tourist capital into a bustling hub of cycling and cyclocross on Sunday.