


It is a busy week for the men’s and women’s cyclocross riders, as after the much-discussed European Championships, the Jaarmarktcross in Niel, and the Aardbeiencross in Merksplas, the Flandriencross in Hamme now awaits on Sunday. We have two clear favorites on that course. WielerFlits looks ahead.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | |
| 2024 | |
| 2024 | |
| 2023 | |
| 2022 | |
| 2021 | |
| 2019 | |
| 2018 | |
| 2017 | |
| 2016 |
The course of the X2O Badkamers Trofee round in Hamme is almost the same as last year. The start is still set with a view of the Miraburg, known from the iconic Flemish film ‘Mira or the Collapse of the Waterhoek’ from 1971, starring Jan Decleir and Willeke Van Amelrooy.
Just before this bridge, the cyclocrossers turn into the field, followed immediately by a technical section through Hamme’s bike park. That section has slightly changed since last year.
After several laps around the pond, the riders head toward the first passage of the pit zone. The route can generally be seen as a traditional course with sections on forest ground, barriers, and a meadow stretch between two ponds.
Then it goes to Sporthal Meulenbroek, where several spectator tents have been set up. The fans are treated to a twisty section here, causing riders to stay longer in this area. After a lap around this pond, the course sends the riders to the second passage of the pit zone, after which the route briefly crosses itself.
On the south side of the water, the riders then return to the start area at the Hamveer. There we will find the successors to Niels Vandeputte and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado.
Unlike the slog that we got in Merksplas, Hamme is more of a technical affair. Not pure power, but refined riding that is not for everyone. In part, we therefore look to different favorites than at the colony, namely the men who did well on Tuesday in Niel.
Even in Niel, it was sometimes a slog, but it was the more technically skilled riders who performed well there as well. That race came down to a three-way sprint between Laurens Sweeck, Niels Vandeputte, and Michael Vanthourenhout. These are therefore three riders we expect again in the top ranks.
Vandeputte has the advantage that he celebrated a win in Hamme a year ago, when he was just ahead of a small peloton with all the big names. Sweeck is always good in Hamme, but we have some doubts about Vanthourenhout. After an off day on the Koppenberg, he no longer has much to fight for in the X2O Trofee standings, so he may primarily focus on Saturday.
Speaking of technique, Thibau Nys quickly comes to mind. However, the leader of the Baloise Glowi Lions is currently not satisfied with his own technical skills. After a long road season, there is no lack of power in his legs, but his feeling on the cyclocross bike is lacking. That was clearly visible in Lokeren with an absolute bad luck day; it was better again at the European Championships.
Speaking of that European Championship: Toon Aerts is also in top form. The fresh holder of the blue-white champion jersey doesn’t love this type of course, but a good Aerts can handle anything. Furthermore, Joris Nieuwenhuis - the leader in the X2O Badkamers Trofee - does not find his preferred terrain here, just like Pim Ronhaar. Still, it’s wise to keep an eye on the Dutch riders.
Women
Fem van Empel and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado are still absent among the women, so the expectation is that we will look at the same contenders as in previous races. Lucinda Brand had to settle for a silver medal at the European Championships after a difficult start, but she has been dominant in all other races. That could be the case again in Hamme.
Inge van der Heijden, however, showed in Middelkerke that every race still needs to be raced and there she took the biggest victory of her career. Her Italian teammate, Sara Casasola, has also succeeded once in ousting the 36-year-old Dutchwoman in Overijse, but she won’t be present on Sunday. She withdrew from Niel after a crash at the European Championships and is also struggling with a respiratory infection.
Furthermore, Aniek van Alphen is also performing excellently this season. Besides Brand, she may be the most consistent factor, although that has not yet been rewarded with a standout result. On the technical course, she should be able to come very close. The French Amandine Fouquenet and Hélène Clauzel have proven their potential in all the Superprestige races this season. The final star goes to Julie Brouwers.
While Saturday will be quite wet in Merksplas, the riders will face dry conditions on Sunday. It will be a cloudy day with quite a bit of wind (up to 3 Beaufort), but that won’t bother the cyclocrossers. According to Meteovista, temperatures will be lower than the day before, barely reaching 9 degrees Celsius.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | |
| 2024 | |
| 2024 | |
| 2023 | |
| 2022 | |
| 2021 | |
| 2019 | |
| 2018 | |
| 2017 | |
| 2016 |
| Rank | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 58:13 | |
| 2 | + 16 | |
| 3 | + 51 | |
| 4 | + 54 | |
| 5 | + 01:02 | |
| 6 | + 01:06 | |
| 7 | + 01:07 | |
| 8 | + 01:36 | |
| 9 | + 01:48 | |
| 10 | + 02:16 |
| Rank | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 44:19 | |
| 2 | + 01:08 | |
| 3 | + 01:38 | |
| 4 | + 01:48 | |
| 5 | + 02:25 | |
| 6 | + 02:27 | |
| 7 | + 02:31 | |
| 8 | + 03:13 | |
| 9 | + 04:20 | |
| 10 | + 06:08 |

Are Sweeck and Vandeputte favorites like in Niel? - photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos

Little can stop Brand this season - photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos


