Key Takeaways:
– Christmas cyclocross season is here with the fourth round of the UCI World Cup in Hulst, Netherlands.
– Last year’s winners won’t be competing this year but top players including Michael Vanthourenhout, Eli Iserbyt, and Lucinda Brand are participating.
– UCI will be live streaming all the World Cup action for free on its YouTube channel.
– The live stream is geo-restricted so it won’t be accessible from countries like the UK, Ireland, US, and Canada.
– VPNs like NordVPN can help access the live stream when traveling.
The race in Hulst is here!
Cyclocross fans, it’s time again for action as the UCI World Cup gears up for its exciting fourth round schedule in the Dutch town of Hulst. Tailored by the icy winds of December, the race has gathered momentum since Mathieu van der Poel and Puck Pieterse claimed victory last season.
Participants to Look Out For
While van der Poel will not be joining in this time, the men’s race is set to have a strong field. Participants include heavyweights like Michael Vanthourenhout, Eli Iserbyt, Toon Aerts, Laurens Sweeck, Felipe Orts, Thibau Nys, and Lars van der Haar. The women’s troupe will see renowned names such as Pieterse, Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado, Fem Van Empel, Zoe Backstedt, and series leader Lucinda Brand, amongst others.
Streaming Details
With all the action to ensue, cyclocross enthusiasts don’t have to worry about missing the event. UCI is set to live stream the entire World Cup action for free on their YouTube page. However, due to geo-restrictions, it won’t be widely available. Countries with UCI broadcast contracts, such as the UK, Ireland, the US, and Canada, will be excluded from the feed.
The UCI YouTube feed will be the sole free stream available in Belgium, and is usually the case for countries without any broadcast deal. This allows residents to enjoy the face-off without any cost. However, if you’re traveling or facing geo-restrictions, don’t worry – VPNs offer an easy solution. Our recommendation goes to NordVPN, a user-friendly software that can set your IP address to appear from any country, conforming to your broadcaster’s Ts and Cs.
Where to Watch
If you’re in the US or Canada, the Hulst round can be viewed on Flobikes yet for a monthly fee or an annual subscription. Similarly, for our UK fans, the race is broadcasted on Eurosport 2 and online on Discovery+. Meanwhile, for European viewers, the race will also be on Max, Discovery+, and Eurosport yet with variable availability.
In Asia, it can be watched on J Sports (Japan) and Astro (Malaysia). Only in regions where there’s no broadcast deal available, the UCI YouTube stream will be on the roll.
Scheduled Timings
As a heads up, here are the timings for various categories:
– Men Junior: 9.30am CET / 8.30am GMT / 4.30am ET
– Women Junior: 10.30am CET / 9.30am GMT / 5.30am ET
– Men U23: 12.00pm CET / 11.00am GMT / 6.00am ET
– Women Elite: 1.40pm CET / 12.40pm GMT / 7.40am ET
– Men Elite: 3:10 pm CET / 2:10 pm GMT / 9.10am ET
Wrap Up
This Christmas, tag along with the cyclocross fever and cheer for your favorite rider as they race their way in Hulst. Fingers crossed for a thrilling season ahead and may the best rider win!
Please note, the use of VPN services should conform with the legal and recreational terms and conditions of the broadcaster. Unauthorized uses won’t be supported.