We take a look into the Waterloo track, which opens up the 2023-2024 World Cup in cyclocross. It will be an extremely muddy and tricky race where surprises can be expected.
The weather has not been too nice for the riders. Usually, the races in the USA are known to be quite fast and lacking a bit the technical aspect when compared to the traditional crosses, however rain has fallen quite a lot on Waterloo this week and that will make things different. Right from the start as the riders enter the fields, there is a thin layer of mud all round, with small ruts forming both in the corners and the straight sections.
A third of the circuit in the riders must dismount in a stairs section and then find some tricky corners. Here differences can be made and it will benefit those with good running form. When around 70% of the track is ridden there is another extremely heavy mud section where more running and a good technique will be key to remain in the front. It will be possible to jump the planks but there will be no rest from the tough trail surface. My outlook on this race is that it will not be one with any real tactics. Following wheels will not really matter, starting too strong won't benefit you greatly, it's an absolute grind from start to finish. It will benefit those with good running form and also seated power, and not so much the explosive riders. Could lead to some surprises no doubt.
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Waterloo 2023-2024 track recon. Via Puck Pieterse / Youtube
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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