Cyclocross Eyes Winter Olympics Spot if UCI Foregoes Revenue
The winter sports federations are willing to accept cyclocross at the Winter Olympic Games as long as the UCI does not claim any financial revenue, reports Het Nieuwsblad. This seems to clear an important hurdle toward cyclocross becoming an Olympic sport.
Previously, winter sports federations feared that organizations like the UCI and the athletics union IAAF, which is lobbying for cross-country running at the Winter Olympics, would pocket a portion of the financial income. The IOC distributes a large part of its revenues to participating international sports federations such as the ISU, the International Skating Union.
Meanwhile, the winter sports federations appear open to a compromise. If the UCI and the IAAF do not receive a share of the IOC’s income, cyclocross is welcome at the Winter Games in the federations’ view. This represents an important step toward cyclocross at the Winter Olympics, as the IOC has already spoken positively about it.
The cyclocross riders themselves are divided on the issue. Mathieu van der Poel is enthusiastic about cyclocross at the Winter Games, but Thibau Nys expressed more reservations.
