31/12/2022

Zdenek Stybar back to cyclocross despite absence of starting fees - "I do this out of love for the sport"

Starting fees in cyclocross have become a common theme over the last few years, as the discipline sees some of it's biggest stars return after spending their road seasons racing at the highest level. Some argue with and against the current format, Zdenek Stybar has revealed that he isn't part of the riders who is getting that bonus.

“I am here for free. Apparently there was no more budget. But I do this out of love for the sport and because it is good preparation for the road season," Stybar shared with Het Nieuwsblad after finishing the final race of the 2022 year in 17th place.

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After it was recently reported that Tom Pidcock earned around €8000 euros on starting fees in a cross, Wout van Aert between €10.000 and 15.000, and Mathieu van der Poel above €15.000, questions have been put regarding what was being payed to the other main athletes present in the races, and also throughout the season.

Sven Nys, former cyclocross star also argued that "yes, Wout and Mathieu are entitled to the best contracts and they bring more than value for money. But it must be the intention that a part of the cake remains for the real crossers?”

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Hence Erwin Vervecken, said to be the person in charge of the starting fees and contracts has shared: "You also have to look at it from the organizers' point of view. They have accumulated losses over the past two winters due to corona. They are now trying to get their finances back in order." Although it exists, the likes of Eli Iserbyt, Laurens Sweeck, Lars van der Haar and Michael Vanthourenhout are mostly headlining the races at the season's starting months and ending weeks.

"We have to avoid that there will only be cross from December to the World Cup," Vervecken, a former pro rider himself, continued. "There are also competitions after the World Cup. You also need crossers for that, just like for the first races of the season.”