UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Benidorm
The UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup returns to Benidorm on Sunday 17 January 2027, on a circuit of just over 3 km through Parque de Foietes and the El Moralet forest park on the inland side of town. It will be the fifth year in a row that Benidorm has hosted a round of the World Cup, the top international series in cyclo-cross.
The race has become one of the biggest days of the Benidorm winter. The January 2026 edition drew around 15,000 spectators, and Visit Benidorm says 45% of them came from abroad. Stars such as Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Fem van Empel have all won here.
Benidorm's place on the calendar is now long term: in September 2026 the UCI chose the town to host the 2031 Cyclo-cross World Championships, the first in Spain since Getxo in 1990.
Dates
| Year | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 18 January 2026 — Round 10 of 12 in the 2025–26 World Cup. Won by Mathieu van der Poel and Lucinda Brand. | Confirmed |
| 2027 | 17 January 2027 — Confirmed by the UCI and announced by Visit Benidorm. Race times and ticket prices for 2027 have not yet been published. | Confirmed |
What happens, day by day
Saturday 16 January
On the 2024 pattern, Saturday brings national-level BenidormCX races for masters, juniors, women and school-age riders on the same course in the morning, then World Cup course inspection and official training in the afternoon. In 2026 the gates opened at 10:00 on the Saturday.
Sunday 17 January, morning
Gates opened at 09:00 on race day in 2026. The junior races came first, with junior men at 09:30 and junior women at 10:35, followed by the under-23 men at 12:00. These races are a good chance to walk the course and pick a viewing spot before the crowds peak.
Sunday 17 January, afternoon
The headline races: in 2026 the elite women started at 13:40 and the elite men at 15:10, each lasting about an hour. The 2027 timetable is published closer to the date, but the order of races has stayed the same in recent years.
Sunday evening
The elite men's race finishes at around 16:15. With nearly half the crowd visiting from abroad, the bars and restaurants of Levante and the Rincón de Loix are a natural place to carry on afterwards.
Where
The course links Parque de Foietes, an urban park, with the El Moralet forest park on the inland side of Benidorm, a taxi ride from Levante and the Rincón de Loix. Since 2026 the start and finish have been on Avenida 9 d'Octubre, with an uphill finishing straight reached after a flight of stairs. A sandpit more than 100 m long, crossed on every lap, is one of the best places to watch, along with the stairs and the climb to the line.
Parque de Foietes and Parque de El Moralet — Foietes and El Moralet parks, Benidorm
Cost
Spectator entry is ticketed. For the 2024 race a general ticket cost €15 when bought before 20 December, children under 14 paid €2 (the money went to local charities), and VIP and Super VIP tickets added food, drink and a finish-line view, with parking by the circuit for Super VIP. Tickets were sold through the official race website, benidormcx.es, and the Flanders Classics ticket portal. Prices for 2027 had not been announced when we checked.
Where to stay nearby
Foietes is on the inland side of town, so any central hotel is a short taxi ride away. January is low season, so rooms are easier to find than in summer, but book early if you want to stay close to the course.
What's on in the bars that week
Shows listed for 17 January 2027:
Bar line-ups for these dates haven't been published yet. They appear here automatically as venues list them.
UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Benidorm — FAQs
When is the Benidorm Cyclo-cross World Cup 2027?
It is on Sunday 17 January 2027, confirmed by the UCI and announced by Visit Benidorm. It is the fifth consecutive Benidorm round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup. Junior and under-23 races run in the morning and the elite women and elite men race in the afternoon; the exact 2027 timetable is published nearer the day.
Where is the cyclo-cross course in Benidorm?
The circuit of just over 3 km runs through Parque de Foietes and the El Moralet forest park on the inland side of town. Since 2026 the start and finish have been on Avenida 9 d'Octubre, with a long sandpit, a flight of stairs and an uphill finishing straight. It is a taxi ride from Levante or the Rincón de Loix.
What time do the elite races start?
In January 2026 the elite women started at 13:40 and the elite men at 15:10, after the junior men at 09:30, junior women at 10:35 and under-23 men at 12:00. The same order was used in 2024. Check the official race website for 2027 times, as the UCI can adjust the schedule for television.
Is the Benidorm cyclo-cross free to watch?
No, entry to the circuit is ticketed. In 2024 a general ticket was €15 if bought before 20 December, and children under 14 paid a token €2 that went to local charities. VIP and Super VIP tickets include food, drink and better views. 2027 prices had not been published when we checked in October 2026.
Who has won the cyclo-cross World Cup in Benidorm?
Mathieu van der Poel won the men's race in 2023 and 2026, Wout van Aert in 2024 and Thibau Nys in 2025. In the women's race Fem van Empel won three in a row from 2023 to 2025, and Lucinda Brand won in 2026. Local rider Felipe Orts, from Villajoyosa, finished third in 2026.
How many people watch the race?
Around 15,000 people watched the 2026 edition, and Visit Benidorm says 45% were international visitors. The first edition in January 2023 also drew more than 15,000. Expect busy paths around the sandpit and the finish, so arrive in the morning if you want a good spot for the elite races.
Will the Cyclo-cross World Championships come to Benidorm?
Yes. In September 2026 the UCI awarded Benidorm the 2031 Cyclo-cross World Championships, announced at its congress in Montreal. It will be the first world championships in the discipline held in Spain since Getxo in 1990. Until then, the town plans to keep its annual January World Cup round.
Related guides
Last updated 20 October 2026 by the onbenidorm team.