Grand Prix Adrie van der Poel
The Grand Prix Adrie van der Poel is a cyclo-cross race held in Hoogerheide, Netherlands, which is part of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup and normally the final World Cup race. The race is named after former cyclo-cross world champion Adrie van der Poel.
| Race details | |
|---|---|
| Region | Hoogerheide, Netherlands |
| Discipline | Cyclo-cross |
| Competition | UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup |
| History | |
| First edition | 20-02-2000 |
| Editions | 21 (2024, + 3 Worlds) |
| Most wins |
|
| Most recent | Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Fem van Empel (NED) |
The first edition was held at the end of the cyclocross season of 1999-2000, when Adrie van der Poel retired from professional cyclocross racing. This was his last race, organised to honour him in his home village. The race was such a success, that it became a yearly venue. In 2003 the race became part of the UCI World Cup.
Van der Poel himself spotted the site in 1999 during a walk along the Scheldeweg. With a meadow, small woodland, lower fields and the steep incline of the Brabantse Wal (wall of Brabant), it was a great spot for a cyclo-cross with the capacity to host a large crowd. Adrie van der Poel designed the first parcours and still tweeks it to improve it every year.