Michael Vanthourenhout wins HG Cross Meulebeke 2026 in four-rider sprint

Michael Vanthourenhout won the 2026 HG Cross Meulebeke after a four-rider sprint on a rain-soaked course, beating Jente Michels, Niels Vandeputte and Witse Meeussen at the end of nine laps.

The Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw CT rider completed the Berencross in 1:02:28, with Michels, Vandeputte and Meeussen all recorded one second behind. Gerben Kuypers finished fifth at seven seconds, while Cameron Mason took sixth at 10 seconds after helping to shape the early part of the race.

It was Vanthourenhout’s fourth victory in Meulebeke after previous wins in 2019, 2021 and 2022. It also continued his fast start to the 2026–27 cyclocross season after victory at HG Cross Dendermonde the previous weekend.

How it unfolded

Mason made the best start on the wet running track and quickly moved clear with Michels. By the start of the second lap the pair had a small advantage, while Vanthourenhout and several of the other pre-race favourites were forced to work their way forward through the mud.

The conditions became steadily heavier as the rain continued. The revised Meulebeke course, which was being ridden in the opposite direction to previous editions and without the large bridge, still retained its sandpit, banks, steps and washboard sections. The mud made the short climbs and repeated accelerations more important than outright speed.

Mason and Michels carried an eight-second advantage into the fourth of nine laps. Behind them, Vanthourenhout had moved into a chase containing Joran Wyseure, Laurens Sweeck, Kuypers and Giel Lejeune. Vanthourenhout and Wyseure eventually closed the gap around the midpoint of the race.

Vanthourenhout tried to force the issue soon afterwards but could not make his first acceleration stick. The front group continued to change as Meeussen, Vandeputte and Lejeune made contact, while the early pace-setters were no longer able to control the race from the front.

Wyseure then dropped out of contention after a mechanical problem. Kuypers, winner of Kermiscross Ardooie two days earlier, managed to bridge back before the final lap and briefly made it six riders at the front.

Vanthourenhout attacked again on the last lap, but Michels, Vandeputte and Meeussen stayed close enough to force a sprint. The Belgian made sure he entered the running track first and held his position through the final metres, with only one second separating the first four riders.

The win gives Vanthourenhout victories in both of the opening HG Cross rounds after his success in Dendermonde. In Meulebeke he had to do it differently, first closing down Mason and Michels and then resisting repeated attacks before the four-up sprint.

Michels and Vandeputte gave Alpecin-Premier Tech second and third, while Meeussen finished on the same one-second gap in fourth. Kuypers, who had won in Ardooie two days earlier, was the first rider outside that final quartet at seven seconds.

The pre-race HG Cross Meulebeke men’s preview had Vanthourenhout and Kuypers among the main favourites, but the revised course and worsening rain kept the leading group together until the final lap.

HG Cross Meulebeke Men 2026 Result