The Kermiscross in Ardooie has just finished, and we are already heading to the next race on the cyclocross calendar. The Exact Cross will hold its second round in Essen this Saturday, and several big names will be there. Cyclingflash looks ahead.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 |  Toon Vandebosch |
| 2024 | Laurens Sweeck |
| 2023 | Wout van Aert |
| 2022 | Gerben Kuypers |
| 2021 | Wout van Aert |
| 2020 |  Mathieu van der Poel |
| 2019 | Quinten Hermans |
| 2018 | Laurens Sweeck |
| 2017 | Mathieu van der Poel |
| 2016 | Wout van Aert |
The cyclocross race in Essen has been taking place for several years in Robotland, a technology park. Part of the circuit is literally located within the park and is characterized by many turns and some technical sections. That part is completed immediately after the start.
Bars and a set of stairs close off that first section of the course. After that, the riders head towards a short sand pit, followed by a section featuring mainly long straight stretches. In other words, the speed here can be high, depending on the weather conditions, of course.
At the very end of the course, there are a few sharp corners. The last corner is a right-hander, after which the riders dive into the final straight. This straight is relatively short. It is therefore important to come out of the last corners in a good position.
Men
The start lists for Essen may not include all the top names, but the second Exact Cross of the season certainly holds its own. The winner from last year, Laurens Sweeck, is back. And he is immediately our top favorite.
Paul Herygers warned us earlier this week: watch Laurens Sweeck closely during the first month of the season. The experienced Crelan-Corendon rider knows that the European Championship in Middelkerke suits him perfectly and must therefore be in good shape early on. A course for real ‘sand riders’ has been designed on the coast, where Sweeck could claim the biggest victory of his career. He still lacks an international title on his palmarès. His form should already be there in Essen.
The course in Essen features hardly any elevation gain, which only plays to his advantage. But don’t underestimate Niels Vandeputte either. Like Sweeck, the 25-year-old Alpecin-Deceuninck rider is an absolute ‘killer’ in the final lap, and Vandeputte is getting stronger all the time. Last winter he already scored his first major wins, with the World Cup in Hulst as the highlight.
Furthermore, Toon Vandebosch is likely the biggest contender for the third spot on the podium. The rider from Westmalle blasted out of the starting blocks and took fifth place in Meulebeke. Everyone at Crelan-Corendon made a strong start, which can only boost team morale.
Local Essen native Tom Meeusen is also back, but we should not expect him to be among the front runners. Competition for the podium places is more likely to come from Mees Hendrikx (Heizomat-Cube), the British all-rounder Cameron Mason (Seven Racing), Victor Van de Putte (Deschacht-Hens-FSP), and Kenay De Moyer (Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw).
Women
At the Kermiscross in Ardooie, Lucinda Brand put the finishing touches immediately. The 36-year-old Dutch rider deliberately chose to start her season in a slightly smaller race to warm up her engine. It’s uncertain if the Baloise Glowi Lions leader really needed the warm-up, as during the entire previous winter she never finished off the podium in a cyclocross race. Simply impressive.
Analyst and former world champion Paul Herygers already suggested Brand might take it a bit easier this winter, but so far, there’s no sign of that. She is lined up to race in Essen after Ardooie as well. Brand finds in the Noorderkempen a course where she can unleash her power well. Essen is often not too technical, so we have no doubt she will try to continue the celebration.
As in Ardooie, Marion Norbert-Riberolle will be the woman to challenge Brand. The Belgian champion is a regular at Essen, having won the last two editions. The major Dutch women were absent then, but that still remains an achievement. Riberolle will also have her Italian teammate Sara Casasola at the start, which could lead to some interesting team tactics.
Other podium contenders to watch are Julie Brouwers (Charles Liégois Roastery CX), Aniek van Alphen (Seven Racing), Alicia Franck (Lotto X-Oats Athletes for Hope), and Jinse Peeters (De Ceuster-Bouwpunt).
The course in Essen will not be very muddy yet, as it will remain dry almost all week. According to Meteovista, on race day itself the sun will shine and temperatures will reach up to 15 degrees Celsius.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Lucinda Brand |
| 2024 | Marion Norbert Riberolle |
| 2023 | Marion Norbert Riberolle |
| 2022 | Aniek van Alphen |
| 2021 |  Zoe Backstedt |
| 2020 | Marianne Vos |
| 2019 | Marianne Vos |
| 2018 | Maud Kaptheijns |
| 2017 | Sanne Cant |
| 2016 | Sanne Cant |
Exact Cross Essen| Rank | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 01:01:59 | |
| 2 | " | |
| 3 | + 04 | |
| 4 | " | |
| 5 | + 08 | |
| 6 | + 11 | |
| 7 | + 12 | |
| 8 | + 25 | |
| 9 | + 50 | |
| 10 | + 58 |
Exact Cross Essen| Rank | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 44:31 | |
| 2 | + 08 | |
| 3 | + 11 | |
| 4 | + 14 | |
| 5 | + 15 | |
| 6 | + 27 | |
| 7 | + 01:27 | |
| 8 | " | |
| 9 | + 01:36 | |
| 10 | + 02:00 |
Niels Vandeputte narrowly missed out last year - photo: Cor Vos
| # | Rider | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 66.45% | |
| 2 | 11.32% | |
| 3 | 6.26% | |
| 4 | 6.11% | |
| 5 | 4.34% |
Who can challenge Lucinda Brand? - photo: Cor Vos
| # | Rider | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 89.48% | |
| 2 | 5.49% | |
| 3 | 1.68% | |
| 4 | 1.25% | |
| 5 | 0.80% |
Exact Cross - Essen
