Zeddam, January 29, 2006. Erwin Vervecken breaks away from Bart Wellens and Francis Mourey in the final lap and claims his second world title. Twenty years later, the Belgian returns to the same spot—this time not as a rider, but as the course designer for the European Cyclocross Championships. On November 7 and 8, the cyclocross riders will compete for the European titles on the course he designed.
He may never have dominated cyclocross like his compatriot Sven Nys, but his list of achievements is nonetheless impressive. Erwin Vervecken became world champion no fewer than three times. In 2001, the Belgian claimed his first world title in Tabor, Czech Republic; in 2006, he won his second in Zeddam; and a year later, he secured his third in front of his home crowd in Hooglede-Gits.
Vervecken was a true championship racer; he always rose above himself in those moments. In addition to his three world titles, he also stood on the World Championship podium five times: three silver medals (1998, 1999, and 2005) and two bronze medals (1994 and 2003). In 2010, after 16 years as a pro, he hung up his bike.
Zeddam 2006: Nys Crashes, Vervecken Strikes
The 2006 world title was one for the history books. On an icy course in Zeddam, favorite Sven Nys crashed a few kilometers before the finish, leaving three riders in contention. In the final lap, Vervecken outpaced his teammate Bart Wellens and Frenchman Francis Mourey.
Course Designer
After his racing career, Vervecken traded his race bike for a drafting table. For more than ten years, he has served as Off-Road Coordinator at Golazo, the organizer of the European Championships in Zeddam. In that role, he has previously designed courses for various cyclocross races. He has also been the manager of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series and the UCI Gravel World Series for many years.
Now Vervecken is returning to Zeddam, the site of his second world title. “It’s an honor for me to be able to design the course 20 years later,” says Vervecken (54). “I’ve tried to preserve as much of the old route as possible, while of course reintroducing the world-famous climb. That really couldn’t be left out of the European Championship course!”
The Makeover of the Legendary Staircase
The staircase, consisting of approximately one hundred steps, lies along the Gildepad and was a notorious feature of the World Cup races and Dutch National Championships held in Zeddam in the late 1990s and early 2000s. But for the 2006 World Championships, there was only a “small staircase.”
“The big staircase didn’t meet UCI rules,” explains Vervecken. “It was deemed too narrow. So at the time, we had to make do with a smaller version of the staircase—starting from the deepest point of the dip, going halfway up, and then sprinting up the final stretch along the small asphalt road.”
At next month’s European Championships, the staircase will indeed shine in all its glory. “After a thorough renovation—a complete makeover, so to speak—the staircase is making a comeback,” says Vervecken. “The staircase will be three meters wide throughout, so riders can pass each other, with a 25-degree gradient over 50 meters. The new staircase has been officially approved by the European Cycling Union.”
“There’s no staircase in cyclocross comparable to this one,” says Vervecken, who won 48 professional cyclocross races during his career.
A Sprint Against a Tree
“I climbed the original set of stairs a few times back then during the World Cup races in Zeddam, and I can assure you: after an hour, an obstacle like that really takes its toll,” said Vervecken. “I also remember a cyclocross race—not a World Cup—during the Christmas season of 2006, the winter after I won the world title. Wearing my rainbow jersey, I had to lose the sprint for the win to the young Lars Boom.”
Also new: a 60-meter-long rider bridge
In addition to the staircase, there’s another brand-new highlight on the European Championship course. “We’re going to build a 60-meter-long rider bridge,” explains the 2006 world champion. “I’d also like to make use of the beautiful delta meadow leading toward the sand pit to add some extra elevation gain to the course.”
“The lap is exactly 2.97 kilometers long and includes both flat meadow sections and technical passages. Finally, the Grafelijke Korenmolen—the oldest still-operating windmill in the Netherlands—is an eye-catcher for spectators and TV viewers at home every lap,” says Vervecken.
Zeddam 2026: Who Will Succeed Vos and Vervecken?
With the European Championships, the international cyclocross world returns to the far east of Gelderland 20 years after the memorable World Championships. On Saturday, November 7, the elite women, among others, will compete for the European title, followed by the elite men on Sunday, November 8.
Who will be the next great champions of Zeddam, 20 years after Marianne Vos and Erwin Vervecken?
