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European Cyclocross Championships podium history | 2024 edition | Course map

Elite men | Elite women

Weather at the race city of Middelkerke on Sunday the 9th, at 2:25 PM, local time: 14C (57F), fair, with the wind from the southwest at 18 km/hr (11 mph).

Elite Men, November 9:

Toon Aerts is the new European cyclocross champion

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The race: An explanation: Toon Aerts' cyclocross team is different from his road team, but the two teams have a new partnership. Aerts is integrating with the Lotto Cycling Team for road races, while still being part of his cyclocross team, Deschacht-Hens-FSP. This new partnership allows him to access more resources and an extensive road program through Lotto

Here's the report from Team Lotto:

Toon Aerts (32) is the new European cyclocross champion. After a thrilling race that had fans glued to their screens, he took the win in a sprint against Thibau Nys. “I never thought I’d experience this again,” said an emotional Toon Aerts.

“Nine years ago, I already became European champion in Pontchâteau, but so much has happened since then... To be able to experience this again in my second career is unbelievable.” With tears of pure relief, Toon Aerts claimed the European title in Middelkerke. “The past few years have been incredibly tough,” he said. (He's, referring to the suspension he had to serve, ed.) “But I always kept going. Often against all odds. You get older, riders you used to race with retire, but I kept pushing on. Becoming European champion again was something I never expected anymore.”

Aerts rides for Deschacht-Hens, the cyclocross team that has been collaborating with Lotto Cycling Team since this spring. He is under contract with Lotto and also competed in a road program with the team over the past few months.

In Middelkerke, Aerts initially seemed to miss the decisive move, but managed to fight his way back from behind. “I don’t even know what all happened today,” he said. “At one point it looked like the race was lost- I was stuck at the back. But thanks to a few strong moves I managed to rejoin the front group. And that final lap... I have no idea what that even was. Luck was definitely on my side today. This is the most beautiful victory of my career.”

Complete Results:

24.92 kilometers raced at an average speed of 25.485 km/hr

27 entries, 25 finishers, 1 lapped rider, 1 did not start.

Where no team name is given I listed the rider's nationality.

Elite Women, November 8:

Inge van der Heijden is the new Women's European Cross Champion

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The race:

Here's the race organizer's report:
The 2025 UEC Cyclo-Cross European Championships began today in Middelkerke, in northern Belgium. The day ended with the Women's Elite race, where Inge Van der Heijden took the lead from the start and never looked back. Behind her, Italy's Sara Casasola tried for a long time to keep up with the Dutch riders Lucinda Brand and Manon van Alphen, but a fall in the sand on the penultimate of six laps dashed her hopes, leaving Brand and Van Alphen to finish second and third respectively, completing an all-Dutch podium.

Complete results:

18.72 km raced at an average speed of 22.317 km/hr

23 starters, 21 classified finishers, 1 lapped, 1 did not finish.

Where no team name is given I listed the rider's nationality.

Course map:

2025 European cross championships map