Van den Spiegel argues back at Sven Nys - "The challenge is to turn cyclo-cross into a product that will still appeal in 2030"

As cyclocross battles to keep it's popularity, Thomas van den Spiegel has come up with ways to bring in new fans to the sport and discipline, and he has responded to the claims that the current state of the World Cup are killing cyclocross according to Sven Nys.

Nys, although having complemented the organizers and the racing in Dublin last week, has shared deep concerns following the event: "A WC every week is deadly for our sport," he said. Amidst a women's race that included only 27 riders, with the grand majority of the headliners missing, Nys has put to question the current format in place for the cup, in which there are 14 races - unlike the 8 in both Superprestige and X2O Trofee. 

“The World Cup is growing and we notice a lot of enthusiasm. We will continue to work to make the World Cup bigger and better. So also cyclo-cross," Thomas van den Spiegel, CEO of Flanders Classics and current main figure in the CX World Cup, shared in an interview with Sporza. “If you can organize a cross from scratch that attracts 8,000 people, where there was a lot of atmosphere and where you feel that it lives, then you can certainly call the first edition a success."

"After Sunday it is clear that a foundation has been laid. It is still the intention to organize a round in England in addition to Dublin. That possibility is still on the table, but it can safely become a both-and story," he continued. Initially, that spot had been predicted to be taken by the English capital of London, however the race is still on the table for the coming years.

Out of the 14 venues in the World Cup this winter, only 7 are placed in 'traditional' Belgian and Dutch soil. The Cup began with two rounds in the United States and has seen also Tabor in the Czech Republic, Dublin in Ireland, Val di Sole in Italy, Benidorm in Spain and Besançon in France. The amount of races and travel necessary has seen some riders opt to skip some of the races, and the fight for the classifications altogether.

“The days of Nys against Wellens will not return. Then it was the weekend: What do we watch on TV? Are we watching football or cross country? Now there's Netflix and people live with their phones in their hands. The challenge is to turn cyclo-cross into a product that will still appeal in 2030 within that range, without losing sight of tradition,” van den Spiegel argued.