Fifa and van Lent win at Sylvestercross in Soest!

Fifa and van Lent win at Sylvestercross in Soest!

The 43rd Sylvestercross in Soest once again provided exciting moments. On December 31, 2025, Ilias Fifa from Spain and Jana van Lent from Belgium won the main categories of long cross-country races. The competition, which is characterized by its demanding course on the sand, attracts numerous athletes every year and is considered a traditional event at the end of the year. Hardloop New reports that Fifa prevailed over the distance of 9,600 meters with a time of 30:47 minutes.

The male competition was exciting as the gaps after the last kilometer were extremely small. Younes Kniya finished behind Fifa, followed by Jesse Fokkenrood, the best Dutchman, who was just a few seconds behind the two leaders. Nos.nl highlights that 23-year-old Fokkenrood from Nieuwegein showed an impressive performance and took third place.

Women's race and other placings

Jana van Lent won the women's race, triumphing over 7,000 meters with a time of 24:09 minutes. Her performance was remarkable, especially compared to her previous fourth place finish at the last EK Cross. Marwa Bouzayani from Tunisia followed in second place with 25:06 minutes, while Veerle Bakker, who also showed strong performances, took third place. Last year's winner Emmy van den Berg had to be content with fourth place.

Doping in sport – an ongoing challenge

However, a look behind the scenes shows that athletes like Ilias Fifa, who was banned for four years for doping in 2017, are still in the spotlight. Despite his return to active competition, the issue of doping in sport remains a persistent problem. Loud Statista Hundreds of thousands of doping tests are carried out every year, but the number of unreported cases remains high because not all violations come to light. For example, there were over 12,100 doping controls in Germany in 2024, while numerous tests also took place in Austria and Switzerland.

Public opinion is clear: a survey shows that only 7% of Germans support the legalization of doping in elite sport, while 89% are against it. This shows how important it is to ensure fairness in sport in order to maintain the integrity of competitions such as the Sylvestercross.

Overall, the Sylvestercross in Soest not only shows exciting competitions, but also raises conversations about ethics and fairness in sport. Although the winners are celebrated, the issue of doping remains an ongoing issue that poses challenges for both athletes and organizers.