World Cup Cyclocross Returns to Britain
British cyclocross fans will have a rare opportunity to see the very best riders in the world on home soil this winter when the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup arrives in Glasgow on Sunday 13 December 2026.
The event will take place in Kelvingrove Park, bringing World Cup cyclocross back to Great Britain for the first time since Milton Keynes staged a round during the 2014-15 season. Glasgow forms the third round of the 12-event 2026-27 World Cup series, following the opening races at Ostrava and Tábor in the Czech Republic.
For British supporters, its significance goes well beyond simply adding another race to the calendar. World Cup cyclocross remains heavily centred on Belgium and the Netherlands, meaning British fans normally have to cross the Channel to experience the sport at its highest level. Glasgow provides a very different opportunity: a genuine World Cup race accessible to supporters from across Britain.
There should also be considerable home interest on the course. Scotland’s Cameron Mason will inevitably be one of the biggest attractions. The Linlithgow-born rider has established himself among Britain’s leading international cyclocross competitors and described the prospect of racing a World Cup so close to home as potentially the biggest moment of his career. British Cycling has also highlighted Zoe Bäckstedt among Britain’s leading international cyclocross talents.
The potential international start list is equally exciting. The World Cup regularly attracts the biggest names in the discipline, with riders such as Mathieu van der Poel and Lucinda Brand having dominated recent seasons. Exactly which stars will appear in Glasgow will become clearer as the winter approaches, but its position in mid-December should make it an important early-season contest.
Kelvingrove Park should provide an impressive backdrop. Glasgow demonstrated its enthusiasm for cycling during the enormous 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, while Kelvingrove itself featured in those championships. Turning the famous city-centre park into a World Cup cyclocross venue promises something quite different from the traditional Belgian courses.
The elite women’s race is scheduled for 1:00pm, followed by the elite men’s race at 2:30pm.
Perhaps most importantly, Glasgow represents an opportunity for British cyclocross to put itself on the international stage. Britain possesses a thriving domestic scene, passionate supporters and riders capable of competing internationally, but opportunities to watch World Cup racing at home have been exceptionally rare.
On 13 December, that changes. For one winter Sunday, Glasgow will become one of the centres of the cyclocross world.
Photo ©Graffika Photography
