The Parkcross has a place of its own as the first race after the World Championships, traditionally run on the following Wednesday in the Sint-Annapark in the middle of Maldegem. It is one of the fastest courses of the winter, a compact lap of grass and forest paths with sand pits and wooden barriers, where a mistake in the sand can decide the race. Sven Nys won the first edition in 2007 and holds the record with four wins. In February 2019 Mathieu van der Poel came here for his first cross as world champion, days after winning the title in Bogense, and won alone in the rainbow jersey. The biggest names come less often now, and no world champion started in 2026, when Niels Vandeputte passed Joran Wyseure after Wyseure struggled in the sand and won by three seconds. For the riders who do start, it is the first chance to win after the title races.