Promising turn of events for the hopes of cyclocross Olympic debut in 2030 as IOC postpones its final decision

The prospect of seeing cyclocross become an Olympic sport at the 2030 Winter Games is gathering momentum. The seed planted months ago now seems to be blooming, at least after recent reports of constructive talks between the IOC and the UCI.

According to Het Laatste Nieuws, those positive discussions took place very recently. Following them, the International Olympic Committee decided to delay its final decision on whether to include cyclocross at the 2030 Winter Olympics.

Two major cycling superstars are playing a role here: three-time Tour de France winner and former Slovenian CX champion Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel, seven-time cyclocross world champion.

"We asked them to record a video to send to the organizing committee of the 2030 Winter Games and also to the IOC," revealed UCI sport director Peter Van Den Abeele last November.

However, the UCI suffered a setback in its bid to make cyclocross an Olympic discipline in 2030 when the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations voiced its disapproval of adding sports not contested specifically on snow or ice: "such an approach would dilute the legacy and brand identity that make the Winter Olympic Games unique," it said.

Sources cited by HLN also indicate that postponing the decision is more positive than negative for one reason: it shows the IOC is taking the proposal seriously, which is a major step towards the initiative’s success.

If cyclocross does make the 2030 Winter Olympic programme, the proposed venue could be familiar to road cycling fans: La Planche des Belles Filles, where Tadej Pogacar won the 2020 Tour de France with an epic comeback over Primoz Roglic, as the Games will be held in the French Alps that year.

Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert are currently 30 and 31 years old, respectively. If confirmed, both superstars could pinpoint the Olympic debut of their beloved discipline as a symbolic farewell with the sport they've dominated for over a decade now. But (nearly) 5 years is a long time and the likes of Thibau Nys and Tibor del Grosso might have taken over their throne by the time already.