"A good asset": David Lappartient pushes for cyclo-cross at Winter Olympics as climate change forces rethink

As the sporting world turns its eyes to Milan and the Italian mountains for the ongoing 2026 Winter Games, a familiar debate has resurfaced in the background. For years, rumors of adding cyclocross to the Olympic program have circulated without result, but now, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) forced to adapt to a warming planet, UCI President David Lappartient sees a golden opening.

The discussion has moved beyond simple speculation. The IOC recently launched a working group titled Fit for the Future, tasked with reviewing the sports program and scheduling of the Games. A primary driver for this review is climate change, as fewer regions can guarantee snow and cold temperatures in late February.

Karl Stoss, the head of the IOC Olympic Programme working group, confirmed to Reuters that the committee is actively looking at non-traditional winter sports to ensure the long-term viability of the event.

"We are reviewing the size of the Games, the mix of sports, options for new additions. We also look at potential crossover between summer and winter sports," Stoss stated.

This potential crossover is exactly where the UCI hopes to capitalize. While some traditional winter sports federations have expressed caution, fearing that the inclusion of summer disciplines could dilute the unique identity of the Winter Games, Lappartient is firmly in favor of the move.

For the UCI President, the inclusion of cyclo-cross is not just about filling a gap left by melting snow, but about modernizing the Winter Olympics and increasing their global appeal. "I truly believe that also with a climate change, to have some winter disciplines like cyclocross within the Games could be a good asset," he said.

He emphasized that the discipline brings a level of star power and universality that could boost viewership. Cyclo-cross is currently experiencing a boom in popularity, driven by multi-discipline superstars who race on both road and mud. "So we can potentially extend to address also climate change to maybe bring more universality, to bring also stars," Lappartient added.

The timeline for this potential addition is becoming clearer. The 2030 Winter Games are scheduled to take place in the French Alps, a home setting for Lappartient that could provide the perfect backdrop for cyclo-cross to appear as a demonstration discipline.

If successful as a demonstration event, the sport could aim for official medal status in subsequent editions, such as the 2034 Games in Salt Lake City or the 2038 edition, for which Switzerland is currently seen as a leading candidate.