Cyclocross Stars Push for 2030 winter Olympics Inclusion with Star-Studded Video
A concerted effort to bring cyclocross-a discipline of competitive cycling-to the 2030 Winter Olympic Games is gaining momentum, spearheaded by a lobbying campaign featuring prominent riders including Tadej Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel, and Puck Pieterse. The push comes as organizers address skepticism from bodies like the International Biathlon Union regarding the sport’s suitability for a winter games program.
The bid aims to capitalize on the growing global popularity of cyclocross and its natural fit within the winter sports calendar. While traditionally contested on varied terrain, proponents argue the sport can be adapted for snowy or icy conditions, and its timing consistently falls within the winter season.Success hinges on convincing the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that cyclocross offers a compelling addition to the games, despite existing concerns about its association with warmer-weather cycling disciplines.
Belgian cycling official Tom Van Den Abeele is leading the charge, emphasizing cyclocross’s value as a developmental proving ground for athletes transitioning to other cycling events. “Everyone is super enthusiastic,” Van Den Abeele stated in a recent interview with NOS.”Cyclocross is often looked down upon, but it is a very good training ground for the other disciplines.”
The International Biathlon Union has expressed doubts, with Secretary-general Max Cobb suggesting that if cyclocross were truly popular, it would already be vying for a spot on the Summer Olympic program. Cobb remarked, “There was nobody who thought: ‘Oh what a good idea.’ We are all honestly scratching our heads.”
Despite this resistance, Van Den Abeele remains optimistic, highlighting the support of world-class athletes like Pogacar, Van der Poel, and Pieterse, who appear in a promotional video intended for the IOC. He asserts that the campaign is built around the argument that cyclocross is fundamentally a winter sport, despite not always being held on snow or ice. The IOC is expected to review proposals for the 2030 Winter Games in the coming months.
