Koppenbergcross brings the elite men back to the cobbled slopes above Oudenaarde on Sunday, 1 November 2026. The race starts at 14:00 GMT. UK television listings currently show coverage on TNT Sports 3 and HBO Max. The start is at 15:00 in Belgium, an hour ahead of the UK now that both countries have returned to winter time. It is the opening round of the 2026–27 X²O Badkamers Trophy, so the result matters both on the day and for the first gaps in the season-long time classification.
The Koppenberg is not an ordinary early-November cyclocross venue. Riders face repeated climbs on and around one of Flanders’ most famous cobbled hills, with grass, cambers and short descents interrupting the climbing. The steepest sections punish a poor start or a mistake on a slippery lap. For viewers, that makes the race unusually easy to follow tactically: watch who can ride the climb cleanly, who has to run and which groups form when the gradient levels out.
Men’s Koppenbergcross start time in the UK
The organiser’s timetable lists the elite men at 15:00 CET on Sunday, 1 November. That is 14:00 GMT in the UK. The elite women start earlier at 13:45 CET, or 12:45 GMT. The under-23 men are scheduled for 12:10 CET and the combined junior races for 11:00 CET. These are race starts rather than guaranteed television transmission times.
One small detail is easy to miss in advance listings: some still label their time column BST even after the clocks change. Britain moved back to GMT on 25 October, while Belgium moved to CET. The one-hour difference remains, but a listing showing 15:00 local Belgian time should never be presented as a 15:00 UK start. If you are joining only for the elite men’s race, aim to have the broadcast open a few minutes before 14:00 GMT.
Where to watch the men’s race live
UK television listings currently identify TNT Sports 3 for the Koppenbergcross elite men’s race, with HBO Max listed as the streaming option. That is more specific than simply saying the X²O Trophy is carried somewhere within Eurosport’s wider European network. The UK Eurosport television channels closed in 2025, and the UK streaming home for TNT Sports cycling moved from discovery+ to HBO Max in March 2026.
Access depends on your television or streaming package. TNT Sports can be available through pay-TV arrangements, while HBO Max viewers need a plan that includes the TNT Sports offering. A basic entertainment subscription should not be assumed to include live sport. Search the live sport guide for Koppenbergcross, Oudenaarde or X²O Trophy and check that the listing is for the men’s elite race on Sunday, rather than a highlights programme or the women’s race.
Belgian broadcaster VRT has a scheduled Koppenbergcross transmission, and Dutch listings also include Eurosport and HBO Max. Those schedules help establish that a live feed exists, but they are not evidence of free, unrestricted access from the UK. Sporza and VRT streams may apply territorial restrictions. For UK viewers, the most dependable starting point is the TNT Sports or HBO Max programme guide, checked again on race morning.
How the men’s race fits into the X²O Trophy
Koppenbergcross opens an eight-race X²O Badkamers Trophy calendar, with later rounds at Hamme-Zogge, Beringen, Hofstade, Loenhout, Baal, Lille and Brussels. Unlike the Superprestige, which is based on points, the X²O standings use cumulative time, with the competition’s own bonus and penalty rules shaping the overall classification. A small separation at the Koppenberg can become a useful advantage, but a difficult day here does not settle the title.
That gives the race a second contest beyond the fight for the day’s win. Winning a sprint matters for the day’s honours, but a rider who cannot win may still be better off keeping the gap to the leader as small as possible. Mechanical trouble, a crash or a poor choice of tyre pressure can carry consequences beyond one result. Our X²O Badkamers Trophy guide explains how the overall competition works and lists the remaining rounds.
Riders to watch on the Koppenberg
Thibau Nys arrives with a particularly strong connection to the race. He won in 2023 and 2025, and his father Sven Nys holds the men’s record with nine victories. The younger Nys is opening his cyclocross campaign here after his road season, so his first competitive laps will reveal more than pre-race predictions about his form. His climbing ability suits the venue, but the transition back to repeated off-road accelerations is never entirely predictable.
Michael Vanthourenhout has been active in the early cyclocross races and is an obvious reference point for the opening exchanges. Lars van der Haar’s wins in 2022 and 2024 underline the value of pacing and efficient technique on the climb. That history is useful context rather than a confirmed start list for 2026. The men’s Koppenbergcross preview covers the expected contenders and how the course could shape the contest; check the organiser’s final rider list for late changes.
What makes the Koppenberg decisive
The television pictures may suggest that everything happens on the cobbles. In practice, the approach can be just as important. A rider can look comfortable on the climb and still lose contact on the approach, where a short acceleration or a poorly taken corner changes position before the next obstacle. Wet grass makes traction less certain, while a dry course may allow stronger riders to apply pressure at speed. Camera coverage tends to focus on the famous ascent, but the gaps often begin forming before the climb is visible.
Watch the first two laps for how the leading group is established. If Nys or another favourite is forced to chase after the opening corners, the climb can make that effort costly. Conversely, a rider who attacks early needs enough in reserve to keep the advantage through every lap, not just on the steepest gradient. The event’s history and past-winners guide explains why the race has produced so many distinctive performances.
Following the result and the rest of the weekend
The women’s elite race starts at 12:45 GMT. Watching it offers a useful preview of how the course is riding before the men take over. The men race after the women, so their tyre and equipment decisions may reflect what happened earlier. Do not confuse the first finish-line result with the X²O overall standings: those are separate classifications and should be checked after the organisers publish the official results.
For broader coverage, the 2026–27 UK cyclocross viewing guide explains the TNT Sports and HBO Max arrangements, while the season calendar places the Koppenbergcross alongside the Superprestige, World Cup and European Championships. If a broadcaster changes the channel or starts its programme earlier, the platform’s own live listing should take precedence over an advance guide.
