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The UCI Cyclocross World Championships in Hoogerheide final weekend proved that the game nonetheless has an enormous viewers and ample enchantment. The decade-long rivalry between Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert reached its peak on Sunday in probably the most scintillating hours of sports activities tv of the season.
However what occurs when these superstars cease?
Flanders Classics CEO Tomas Van Den Spiegel, who organises the World Cup, desires to capitalize on the momentum from the success of Hoogerheide and safe the way forward for cyclocross.
Within the Sporza podcast De Tribune, Van Den Spiegel mentioned the game’s strengths and limitations with VRT commentator José De Cauwer and described his imaginative and prescient of the long run.
“Cyclo-cross has some benefits that highway biking doesn’t have: it takes 1 hour, women and men are just about equal, the riders are always using laps which ensures a number of visibility for sponsors, and you’ve got these stars.
“These are all issues that the game is already benefiting from, but in addition be certain that cyclocross is future-proof. Now, we have now to have the ability to make a plan that provides the cross a future with out Mathieu and Wout,” Van Den Spiegel stated.
One level he made will you’ll want to increase the hackles of different cyclocross organisers who’re already beneath strain because the growth of the World Cup to 14 races. Van Den Spiegel dared to recommend the normal ‘kerstperiode’ races in December had been counter-productive.
“The product turns into extra profitable when there’s extra shortage and subsequently extra demand. Right here [in Belgium] – particularly in the course of the Christmas interval – we have now an oversupply of ‘cross. That has labored nicely however will not be productive for the long run.
“We should always take an enormous white sheet and begin over from scratch. I’d love to do this myself as a result of I feel we may form [the calendar] significantly better.”
“I’d additionally assume it is smart for the World Cup to be the premise of that new calendar. You fill out these 14 rounds and attempt to construct an excellent product and calendar round that.”
Much less controversial had been options of in some way pairing cyclocross with the burgeoning gravel racing scene to create year-round curiosity.
“With the arrival of gravel races, you may be capable to create a brand new form of bicycle owner who combines each parts: cyclocross in winter and gravel in summer time,” De Cauwer recommended.
“Why could not each skilled group have one or two cyclocross or gravel riders? Within the juniors, you now have a world champion with Léo Bisiaux that you need to attempt to preserve in cyclocross. If you will get ‘cross on French tv with that … Or when you have a star from Italy … then you definitely’re off.”
Van Den Spiegel agreed. “Remember that guys like Alaphilippe, Pogacar, Stybar and Sagan have raced cyclocross.
“We should always be capable to preserve it in order that riders can apply each disciplines as a substitute of getting to decide on. I feel Mathieu and Wout are superb ambassadors for this.”
Though riders in North America have seen cyclocross sponsorship drying up amid the trade’s infatuation with gravel, Van Den Spiegel sees the 2 disciplines as complementary.
“Cyclocross riders are made for the game of gravel. We now have to remain very near that, and see if a mixture of each disciplines is feasible. I see it as complementary to one another moderately than a menace.”
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