This cyclocross season has seen close and exciting competition, and Marie Schreiber has emerged as a consistent podium finisher, having placed in the top three at every race she has entered. Her highlight so far was a commanding victory in Meulebeke, Belgium, in mid-October, where she beat several of the sport's top international stars.
Nevertheless, the favourite on home soil in Zeddam will be Dutch world champion Lucinda Brand, who is expected to have strong support from the local crowd.
Reflecting on her approach to the championships, Schreiber commented: "I am taking this very calmly. I have nothing to prove to anyone, so I will simply do my best and see what happens. Expectations are high because of my recent results, and of course I would be disappointed to finish only tenth. But anything can happen in cyclocross, so it is best not to set unrealistic goals. I just want to give it my all. The course features a very long staircase, which I enjoy, and I have watched old races from Zeddam on YouTube to prepare."
The Zeddam circuit in Gelderland is approximately 3km long and previously hosted the world championships twenty years ago. That 2006 event saw Marianne Vos, then aged eighteen, win her first of eight cyclocross world titles, while Luxembourg's Jempy Drucker placed eighth in the men's under-23 race. A notable feature of the course is the long staircase with ninety-nine steps, which has been specially restored for this year's championships.
Several other Luxembourg athletes will compete across various categories. Sarah Koenig will start in the junior women's race on Saturday morning, followed by Lennox Papi in the under-23 men's event. Papi is in good form, having finished twelfth at last Sunday's Koppenbergcross. On Sunday, Ben Fleming and Ben Koenig will represent Luxembourg in the junior men's race, both aiming for a top finish in a highly contested category, where near-perfect performances are required for a strong result.
The European Cyclocross Championships will be held on Saturday, 7 November, and Sunday, 8 November 2026.
Saturday, 7 November:
11am – 11.40am: Junior women (Sarah Koenig)
1pm – 1.50pm: Under-23 men (Lennox Papi)
3pm – 3.50pm: Elite women (Marie Schreiber)
Sunday, 8 November:
11am – 11.40am: Junior men (Ben Fleming and Ben Koenig)
1pm – 1.50pm: Under-23 women
3pm – 4pm: Elite men
