[Race thread] 2025 Brussels Universities Cyclocross

Date Location Series Women's start Men's start
16 Feb Brussels, Belgium X2O Trofee (race 8 of 8) 13:45 (CET) 15:00 (CET)
Main info Official website, startlists, cyclocross24 race info page
Standings Women's Trofee classification, men's classification
Previews Wielerflits (Dutch), course preview from 2021 with Rebecca Fahringer
Live updates live timing, live ticker for the women's race and the men's race
TV VRT/Sporza (Belgium), Eurosport/Discovery+/HBO Max (Europe), Flobikes (North America)

Weather: 2C/36F grey

Course

The final classification cross of the year takes place in the park between two universities (the VUB and ULB) in Brussels. So expect a part-city crit, part traditional cross course with lots of sharp cornering, short steep ascents and some confused students who are wondering what is happening

Women's favourites

First and second overall are clear with Brand and Worst having unassailable gaps on the competition. But third place overall (worth €10,000) is still really close with Casasola having a 14 second gap over her team mate Bakker. Giving her form yesterday, it looks to be advantage Casasola, but Bakker has finished on the podium her three times, so it is a course that suits her.

Norbert-Riberolle has also done well here, finishing in 2nd place just 13 seconds behind Brand last year and Van der Heijden seems to be an end of season podium guarantee.

Men's favourites

Like in the women's classification, the men's overall winner is pretty much decided with Iserbyt having a 2,5 minute advantage over Aerts. Even Ronhaar is safe in 3rd place.

So the fight will be about the win on the day. Iserbyt won the last two editions here, closely followed by team mate Vanthourenhout. Van der Haar and Nieuwenhuis joined the sauzen boys on the podium. But as we've seen yesterday, a lot of riders are at a very similar level and can just look at each other if someone like Vandeputte tries to ride away again.