The new HG Cross series got underway in Dendermonde on Sunday, with world champion Lucinda Brand and Michael Vanthourenhout claiming the first elite victories under the new banner.
HG has taken over as title partner of the collection of seven standalone televised crosses previously known as Exact Cross, and the opening round at Grembergen also marked the start of the international Belgian cyclocross season. The familiar Dendermonde course retained its mix of steps, short climbs, cobbles, sand, bridge crossings and the spectacular washboard section.
Brand starts with a win
Lucinda Brand wasted no time in putting the rainbow jersey at the front in her first cyclocross race of the 2026–27 season.
The women’s race remained unusually compact for much of the afternoon, with Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, Denise Betsema, Aniek van Alphen and European champion Inge van der Heijden all prominent. Even after five laps, much of the leading group remained together.
Brand gradually began increasing the pressure before making her biggest move on the sandy climb on lap six. Alvarado was the closest to matching her, while Betsema and Van Alphen chased just behind.
The world champion was unable to escape completely, however. Alvarado and Betsema returned to her on the final lap, leaving Brand at the front of a three-rider group.
Rather than wait for a sprint, Brand simply kept the pressure on. Her relentless pace eventually left Alvarado and Betsema unable to challenge properly on the finishing straight, giving Brand victory by just one second over Alvarado, with Betsema another second behind.
Van Alphen finished fourth, with Van der Heijden fifth and Kristýna Zemanová sixth.
It was Brand’s fifth victory at Dendermonde and an ideal beginning to her new cross campaign.
Vanthourenhout strikes late
The men’s race produced an equally tactical contest, with Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw controlling much of the ten-lap race.
Gerben Kuypers was prominent from the opening lap alongside Britain’s Cameron Mason, before a sizeable leading group formed. As the race developed, Pauwels Sauzen repeatedly used its numerical strength, with Yordi Corsus, Michael Vanthourenhout and Kuypers all forcing the pace.
By halfway, Corsus, Vanthourenhout, Kuypers and Joran Wyseure had begun to establish themselves at the front, although Niels Vandeputte, Ryan Kamp and others repeatedly fought their way back into contention.
Vanthourenhout saved his decisive move for the final lap.
He accelerated hard before the crucial sandy climb and, while his rivals were forced to dismount near the top, Vanthourenhout managed to keep riding. That small advantage was enough. Once clear, he pushed on through the remaining technical sections and could not be brought back.
Vanthourenhout crossed the line two seconds ahead of teammate , giving Pauwels Sauzen a one-two finish. Wyseure took third after beating Kuypers to the final podium place, while Vandeputte completed the top five.
For British interest, Cameron Mason finished eighth, 18 seconds behind Vanthourenhout after spending much of the race in the leading groups.
The victory was Vanthourenhout’s second win of the new cyclocross season.
With close racing in both elite events and many of the major European names already present, Dendermonde provided a strong opening to the new HG Cross era. The series continues at Meulebeke on 17 October.
