"The idea that Tom Pidcock would be a medallist at both the Summer and Winter Olympics would be wonderful" - Cyclocross moves closer to Winter Olympic involvement

Could cycling fans soon have an added interest in the Winter Olympics? If Michel Barnier, former French prime minister and former co-president of the Albertville Olympic Games in 1992 gets his way, we could be seeing cyclocross added to the Winter Olympic Games sooner rather than later.

“We can imagine, and this is a wish of the cycling federation, that cyclocross could be a demonstration sport,” Barnier told L'Equipe about his desire to test the waters with a cyclocross battle at the 2026 Winter Olympics, before being a fully-fledged part of the Games that are set to be held in the French Alps in 2030. The Olympic committee often use these test events to trial a sport's potential Olympic interest and capacity before giving the green light proper for the following games.

Barnier was a keen watcher of the 2025 Cyclocross World Championships in Lievin, France earlier this year, and whilst that particular race didn't have a wintery feel to things, the Frenchman was incredibly impressed by what he saw. “I was very impressed by the popular success of cyclocross," he comments with respect. "The Games must be popular.”

Barnier also already foresees a potentially captivating story to tell at a Cyclocross Winter Olympic battle. "The idea that Tom Pidcock, for example, would be a medallist at both the Summer and Winter Olympics would be wonderful,” he previews.

Current UCI President David Lappartient is one of the leading contenders to take over at the helm of the Olympic Committee. Could that fact also be a big benefit for the hopes of cyclocross? Only time will tell but the signs are growing in positivity.