It has been an exciting start to the CX World Cup in 🇺🇸 Next up: 📍Tabor, Czech Republic 📆: Join us on 23 October for more of the action and to find out if Iserbyt and van Empel will continue their winning streak... #CXWorldCup
USA races "arm cyclocross in a certain way for the future", van den Spiegel is confident of
CyclocrossWednesday, 19 October 2022 at 20:30
Flanders Classics CEO Thomas van den Spiegel has talked about the future of Cyclocross and more specifically the non-Belgian portion of World Cup racing currently existing.
"In Flanders we experience cyclo-cross as a folk festival: we like to drink a beer and listen to bad music," van den Spiegel explained in an interview with Sporza. "We are all absorbed in it. That is part of who we are. But the people who line the course in the United States are all active cyclocross riders... Those people invest a lot to be there, they come from 20 to 30 different American states. Cyclo-cross is experienced in the US more as a participation sport than a spectator sport on the spot."
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Flanders Classics - who also organize many of the spring classics - are since 2020-2021 taking charge of the World Cup. This year it consists of 14 races, spread throughout 8 countries. These include "foreign" races in the USA (Waterloo & Fayetteville), Czech Republic (Tabor), Ireland (Dublin), Italy (Val di Sole), Spain (Benidorm) and France (Besançon).
"The intention is to arm cyclocross in a certain way for the future. That will not only work in Flanders. Cycling has the potential to be a bigger sport. We see that in the applications we get for the World Cup," he continued, arguing for the focus in developing cyclocross in other nations.
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“Currently, we have names in both the men and women that are known to cycling followers around the world. Just think of the big three (Van Aert, Van der Poel and Pidcock), Lucinda Brand and Fem van Empel, who will also be riding on the road. Kata Blanka Vas and Zoe Bäckstedt are also coming. We have to use that momentum to take cyclo-cross a bit out of Flanders," van den Spiegel said. "We can also return to Flanders. But where is cyclocross going then? Will cyclocross in its current form still exist in 2030?"
The recent spur of cyclocross stars moving onto the road with large amounts of success has further popularized the discipline. Not only has it brought in more attention from more traditional road cycling fans, but several pro riders are also taking the leap back to the discipline over the winter in search of a different approach to their training.
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The two World cups in Waterloo and Fayetteville - which has also hosted the world championships last season - have been successful and the USA is now a consistent figure at the start of the CX calendar. “Behind the crossroads in Fayetteville is the Walton family, from the Walmart chain. They are among the richest Americans. Trek is located in Waterloo, which has been investing a lot in cyclo-cross for years via the team of Sven Nys (Baloise Trek Lions). You have to honor and respect in a certain way that people are still willing to do that," he reasoned behind the focus and collaboration that exists between the organizers.
"It is undeniable that in the long term we will have to look at how we can better shape the World Cup. We have to see how we can ensure that the best riders start in as many crosses as possible," van den Spiegel argued.
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