Del Grosso second best cyclocross rider in the world, Pieterse closes in on Brand: our new ranking revealed
The Cyclingflash Cyclocross Ranking calculates based on performances who truly is the best cyclocross rider. The result? Tibor Del Grosso is ranked number two in the world. And Puck Pieterse is closing in on Lucinda Brand just before the World Championships in Hulst.
Who is the best cyclocross rider in the world? The answer may seem simple: look at the UCI ranking. But that ranking mostly rewards those who race many events, not necessarily who performs best. With that in mind, we developed the Cyclingflash Cyclocross Ranking: a system that purely looks at how well riders perform relative to their competitors.
Del Grosso: from talent to world-class contender
The outcome among the men is striking. Behind the untouchable Mathieu van der Poel (rating 1138) stands not Wout van Aert, but Tibor Del Grosso with a rating of 968. The 22-year-old Dutchman climbed no less than ten places compared to the end of last season, proving that his breakthrough was no fluke.
Equally impressive is the third place of Emiel Verstrynge. The Belgian flew under the radar this season, but his consistent performances earn him a well-deserved podium spot in the ranking. Six places higher than at the end of last season.
How the ranking works
The Cyclingflash Cyclocross Ranking uses a system that adjusts the rating of all participants after each race based on their performance relative to expectations. Beat someone with a higher rating? You gain extra points. Lose to someone with a lower rating? You drop more. The system does not consider how active a rider is.
One win in a highly competitive race is worth more than five wins in weak fields. Whether you do it in a World Cup, C1, or C2 race doesn’t matter for the Cyclingflash Cyclocross Ranking. Only the strength of your rivals counts. The main difference with the UCI ranking is that you don’t earn points by simply racing a lot or just racing where many points are awarded.
Vandeputte and Nys: both at 957, both podium contenders
A look at fourth and fifth reveals a nice statistic: Niels Vandeputte and Thibau Nys are both on 957 points. Vandeputte has grown into his peak form this season and seems to have found it just in time. Four places higher than last season. The Belgian is a serious podium candidate in Hulst.
Nys is also having a strong season, although mistakes occasionally hold him back. Still, no one should count him out: at championships, Nys always manages to find that little extra. The ranking places him exactly equal with Vandeputte.
Brand stumbles, Pieterse smells her chance
Among the women, Lucinda Brand has dominated this season. Win after win, race after race. The 2024 world champion seemed on track for a flawless season. But last weekend in Maasmechelen, the first crack appeared with a disappointing tenth place. Nine riders finished ahead of her, costing her points.
Brand still leads the ranking with 1037 points, but Puck Pieterse follows just four points behind (1033). The difference between the two Dutch stars is minimal. And while Brand shows signs of fatigue, Pieterse appears to be building towards her best form.
The timing is remarkable. This weekend the cyclocross World Championships in Hulst are scheduled. Can Brand recover in a week and perform at her best again? Or will Pieterse seize her chance now that the competition looks vulnerable? The numbers suggest the battle for the rainbow jersey will be more exciting than expected.
Fouquenet: the French podium contender
Kristýna Zemanová (+17) and Aniek van Alphen (+13) made big leaps this season and were the biggest climbers overall, but someone who should not be overlooked: Amandine Fouquenet. The Frenchwoman rose eight places compared to last season and settled in fourth place with a rating of 977. The gap with number three Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado is not very large.
Fouquenet proved this season she can compete with the absolute top. In Hulst, on a course where technique and endurance come together, she is a serious outsider for the podium. The ranking confirms what experts already saw: France finally has another cyclocross star.
See the full ranking
Curious where your favorite cyclocrosser stands? The complete ranking, including the option to compare with previous periods, can be found here.
