Key Takeaways:
– Mathieu van der Poel enters the UCI Cyclocross World Cup as a favourite in Hoogerheide.
– The Cyclocross World Cup finale will take place on January 26.
– Free live streams will be available in selected regions globally.
– For blocked territories, VPNs are recommended to access live streams.
The Anticipation for the UCI Cyclocross World Cup Finale
Mathieu van der Poel, a sensation in the cycling field, is set to partake in the grand finale of the UCI Cyclocross World Cup on January 26. The event that is eagerly awaited is the 11th round of the 2024-25 World Cup season. Set in the picturesque Dutch town of Hoogerheide, this race will wrap up the thrilling series by crowning the champions.
Contestants to Watch
Despite a late entry to the season, Van der Poel remains a crowd favourite for Hoogerheide, especially after his triumphant win at Maasmechelen. His main rival, Wout van Aert, however, will not be participating in Hoogerheide. On the other hand, Michael Vanthourenhout leads the World Cup standings and is likely to bag the title if he maintains a mid-range position during the race. Other notable competitors include Toon Aerts, Eli Iserbyt, Laurens Sweeck, and the Belgian star, Thibau Nys.
For the women’s race, Lucinda Brand has a significant lead with a 66-point advantage. Thus, her overall title seems secure even if she were to not participate. Female racers to watch out for on Sunday include Fem van Empel, Blanka Vas, and Zoe Backstedt.
Your Guide to Live Streaming the Race
The UCI is extending its free live stream service to many countries, allowing fans to witness prominent cyclocross riders competing in Hoogerheide. The UCI is providing a free live stream on its YouTube channel without registration, subject to geo-restrictions in certain areas.
For UK fans, the stream will be inaccessible throughout the season. The situation is brighter for fans from the US, Canada, and Australia, who can enjoy the open stream for Hoogerheide. The UCI has also provided a list of restricted territories for fans’ ease.
Unrestricted Access via VPN
There is no reason to miss the thrilling race because of location-based restrictions. Benefit from Virtual Private Networks (VPN) to access live streaming services from any region. VPNs allow your computer to imitate being in another country, unfolding the opportunity to log into your desired streaming accounts to watch the action-packed race.
Our colleagues at TechRadar, experts in VPN and cybersecurity, currently recommend NordVPN as the top pick for streaming and enhancing online security.
Coverage in the US, Canada, and UK
Despite Cyclocross World Cup Hoogerheide not being listed on the FloBikes schedule for US and Canada viewers, they can still tune in for free on YouTube, as confirmed by the UCI.
For UK and Ireland fans, the final round of the Cyclocross World Cup in Hoogerheide featuring Mathieu van der Poel will air on TV on Eurosport 2 and online on Discovery+. However, accessing the free UCI stream on YouTube requires a VPN for viewers in the UK.
Subheading: Event Schedules and Timings
The race schedules on January 26, 2025 are as follows: Men Junior at 9:30am CET / 8:30am GMT / 4:30am ET, Women Junior at 10:30am CET / 9:30am GMT / 5:30am ET, Men U23 at 12:00pm CET / 11:00am GMT / 6:00am ET, Women Elite at 1:40pm CET / 12:40pm GMT / 7:40am ET, and Men Elite at 3:10pm CET / 2:10pm GMT / 9:10am ET.
Make sure to mark these timings to not miss the thrilling finale of the UCI Cyclocross World Cup, and witness the can’t miss showdown involving Mathieu van der Poel. Let the best rider win!