Belgium claimed its 14th U23 men’s cyclocross world championship since 1996, Saturday in Hulst, the Netherlands. Aaron Dockx, runner-up in the 2022 Junior men’s race, clawed back Frenchman Aubin Sparfel in the latter half of seven laps to raise his arms at the finish line. Rhett Bates was top Canadian in 40th.
Preliminaries
Two-time elite Dutch champion Tibor del Grosso repeated as U23 gold medalist last year in Liévin, but he had stepped up to the top level in Hulst. This season’s U23 World Cup titlist David Haverdings was hoping to have a better Worlds than his 12th last February. Although he had brother Floris in his corner, he could expect a strong challenge from Frenchman Aubin Sparfel.
In 2025 Ian Ackert was top Canadian at 16th. This year Mathis Duval and Rhett Bates contested the U23 title.
Bates in the warm up.
Dutch, Belgian and French riders dominated the front row of the starting grid. Sparfel and compatriot Romain Debord had the strongest starts. Haverdings was alert to the threat. Sparfel and Haverdings were one-two at the midpoint of the first circuit. Bates and Duval were 39th and 46th respectively.
Haverdings follows Sparfel on Lap 1.
Belgian Arthur van der Boer pushed to the front at the start of Lap 2, the string staying untrimmed. Sparfel reestablished himself in the lead and started to open a gap, eight seconds clear at the finish line. Bates and Duval kept their positions.
On Lap 3 of 7, the Netherlands took responsibility for the chase, but the French flyer had 16 seconds to play with.
The Netherlands and Belgium chase.
Dockx started to make up ground on Lap 4. Haverdings laboured in seventh.
Dockx had the bit between his teeth.
Dockx caught and dispatched Sparfel, who had a tire problem and dropped into the van der Boer chase group. Sparfel didn’t want to be sandbagged, and tried to pursue on his own. The Frenchman continued to stalk the Belgian on the penultimate lap, but after Sparfel mucked up the planks Dockx held 14 seconds when he heard the bell.
Dockx wouldn’t be denied. Two Dutchmen scrapped it out for the final podium spot and Keije Solen prevailed. Haverdings was 14th.
2026 UCI Cyclocross World Championships, U23 Men
Gold) Aaron Dockx (Belgium) 53:11
Silver) Aubin Sparfel (France) +0:19
Bronze) Keije Solen (The Netherlands) +0:22
40) Rhett Bates (Canada)
43) Mathis Duval (Canada)