"We see that the level in cyclocross has gone up in recent years" - Felipe Orts welcomes the addition of Benidorm to the World Cup

Felipe Orts is considered one of the key figures in the internationalization of cyclocross. He manages to hold his own among the Belgians and Dutchmen who dominate the men's scene. In Merksplas, Orts even seemed to be on his way to a podium finish for a good while, so IDLProCycling.com naturally interviewed the Spaniard as soon as possible.

"I am very happy that there is now a World Cup in Benidorm," says Orts. "That is super important for the sport in Spain. And for that World Cup, it is crucial that the best riders are at the start."

It also means that Orts doesn't have to hop on a flight to Brussels for once. Those who think the Spaniard lives in Belgium during the winter months are mistaken. "I fly back and forth from Alicante to Brussels every week. The connection is very good and it's cheaper than a second house in Belgium. Also, my family lives in Spain and seeing them is good for me," says Orts. He again emphasizes that he has no problems with the intense travelling he has to do in winter. "Overall, I am happy that I now have a team that wants to support me in this sport."

Orts does see significant progress in Spain, especially with the arrival of the World Cup in Benidorm. "The best riders in the world were at the starting line there and that was super important for Spanish cyclocross. We see that the level in cyclocross has gone up in recent years. In the north of Spain you can race at a decent level. It's still better in Belgium and the Netherlands, but I definitely see progress and the cyclocross in Benidorm gives extra motivation for Spanish cyclocrossers to improve."