Van der Poel sits on 2,240 UCI points. Vandeputte follows on 2,231, with reigning European champion Thibau Nys another 38 points back on 2,193. All three riders occupy the podium of a ranking the Dutchman currently leads from his sofa.

That gap has swung in a matter of weeks. On 27 October the UCI table had Vandeputte on top with 2,260 points, Van der Poel on 2,240 and Nys on 2,153. Vandeputte’s total has since slipped as results from a career-best 2025-26 campaign drop out of the rolling calculation. Van der Poel’s number has not moved, because he has not raced.

Last winter does the heavy lifting

The reigning world champion, who took the rainbow jersey in Hulst on 1 February, has not lined up at a cyclocross in the 2026-27 season. His current haul is built almost entirely on last winter, including that Hulst gold and a run of World Cup wins. Those results remain inside the UCI’s 12-month window, which is why he is still the man to beat on paper even without turning a pedal.

Alpecin-Deceuninck has not confirmed a start date for his cyclocross program this winter. Until he races, every point he holds is a legacy figure.

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Belgian sweep at Zeddam closes the gap

Nys has been the busiest of the three at the top. He won his second European title at Zeddam on 8 November, finishing seven seconds clear of Joran Wyseure and 19 ahead of Vandeputte. The Belgian podium sweep pushed Nys past 2,190 UCI points and trimmed the gap to Van der Poel to 47.

Vandeputte, who was crowned Superprestige champion in 2025-26, has stayed in the points conversation despite losing the headline figure. He has been on or near the podium at most of the season’s opening Belgian races, including a third place at the Superprestige opener in Overijse on 25 October.

Mason wins Niel in the mud

The scramble underneath Van der Poel continued on Wednesday. Cameron Mason, riding for 777TV CX Team, took his first Superprestige win in the mud at Niel, crossing the line 20 seconds ahead of Wyseure, with Joris Nieuwenhuis a further seven seconds back. It was the third round of the eight-event series, and the result moved Mason to the top of the overall standings on 39 points, one clear of Wyseure.

The next Superprestige round is Merksplas on Saturday 14 November.

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