Diegem, A cyclo-cross race since 1975
Diegem hosts one of the oldest and best-known cyclo-cross races in Belgium. Since 1974 the Sint-Anna-Vooruit cycling club, also known for its Easter road races, has organised a cyclo-cross every year with the best riders at the start. The first edition on the roll of honour was won by Albert Van Damme on 27 December 1975. Since 1982 the race has been part of the Superprestige, the oldest cyclo-cross series.
A race under floodlights
Diegem is one of the few cyclo-cross races held in the evening. The race was first run under artificial light in 2000, and every year since 2007. It usually takes place in the last week of December, between Christmas and New Year, and has become a fixed date for cyclo-cross fans.
Record holders and big names
Roland Liboton won the race eight times: in 1980 and seven years in a row, from 1982 to 1988. Later winners include Sven Nys, Niels Albert, four times in a row from 2009 to 2012, and Mathieu van der Poel, six times in a row from 2014 to 2019 and once more in 2023. Wout van Aert won in 2022. In 2020 and 2021 the race was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the junior race, the future road champion Peter Sagan won in 2007.
The women's race
Since 2011 there has also been a women's race; Marianne Vos won the first one. Vos, Sanne Cant and Puck Pieterse share the record with three wins each.
Winners since 2009
- 2025 – men: Tibor Del Grosso · women: Puck Pieterse
- 2024 – men: Laurens Sweeck · women: Lucinda Brand
- 2023 – men: Mathieu van der Poel · women: Puck Pieterse
- 2022 – men: Wout van Aert · women: Puck Pieterse
- 2020–2021: cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic
- 2019 – men: Mathieu van der Poel · women: Annemarie Worst
- 2018 – men: Mathieu van der Poel · women: Sanne Cant
- 2017 – men: Mathieu van der Poel · women: Sanne Cant
- 2016 – men: Mathieu van der Poel · women: Marianne Vos
- 2015 – men: Mathieu van der Poel · women: Ellen Van Loy
- 2014 – men: Mathieu van der Poel · women: Marianne Vos
- 2013 – men: Sven Nys · women: Sanne Cant
- 2012 – men: Niels Albert · women: Kateřina Nash
- 2011 – men: Niels Albert · women: Marianne Vos
- 2010 – men: Niels Albert
- 2009 – men: Niels Albert