Preview: Superprestige Ruddervoorde 2025 – First Showdown Between Almost All Top Riders

Course

Ruddervoorde is perhaps the only organizer in the cyclocross circuit with a course laid out entirely on a single meadow. The domain is owned by brothers Wim and Geert Pyfferoen, who organize the race together with Kurt Vanneste. And that naturally offers many advantages.

Over the past decade, they have done their utmost to optimize the course in Ruddervoorde. There is now a permanent sand section and about four hills — including two steep inclines — on the grounds. Eight years ago, a 165-meter-long ‘finish stretch’ of concrete pavers was installed within the meadow, so that the Vrijgeweidestraat itself remains entirely cross-free.

Good to know, the Pyfferoen brothers installed a drainage system on the domain years ago. As a result, the Ruddervoorde course — no matter how hard it rains — never really turns into a mud bath.

The compact course means that Ruddervoorde involves quite a bit of turning and twisting — even though the course builders do their best to vary it occasionally. Combined with small barriers, a flight of stairs with 24 steps, and some bridges, we get a technical cyclocross in Ruddervoorde.

Notably, part of the course, including the start and finish sections, is now run in the reverse direction compared to previous years.

Organization website

Favorites

Men
It was quite a surprise when Joran Wyseure took the opener of the Superprestige last year, but such a first GC cyclocross often produces a strange picture. All the top contenders race against each other for the first time and the pecking order isn’t entirely clear yet.

Although, in Ardooie, Toon Aerts already showed what he’s capable of. Something everyone expected after his extensive road campaign with the Lotto team. While last winter was somewhat of a transition season for Aerts, often starting from the third or fourth row, he now begins every race on equal footing. The combination of these two factors makes us very optimistic.

Just like in Ardooie, Michael Vanthourenhout will be an important contender. The West Flander is the hope of Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw, especially with Eli Iserbyt still recovering at home. For Iserbyt, Ruddervoorde is always a home race, which can be an extra motivation for his teammates. Incidentally, Vanthourenhout thrives on those short climbs and the technical skills needed to perform well in Ruddervoorde. It’s strange that he has never won here before.