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“Fewer people on the cross? Koppenbergcross now has more VIPs than in 2019” | X²O Trophy

Cyclocross enthusiasts have noticed in recent weeks that there seems to be fewer people along the course than before. Christophe Impens, responsible for the organization of numerous crosses with Golazo, nuances this. “It’s not dramatic,” he tells Sporza.

We meet Christophe Impens on the flank of the Koppenberg, where preparations for Monday’s X²O cyclo-cross are in full swing. “This is the high mass of cyclocross. Normally I expect a full house again. I am quite confident that it will be fine,” says Impens.

“I feel it is really alive here. People are longing to come to the Koppenbergcross again. Everyone with a Covid Safe Ticket is welcome. I expect a lot of people, rain or shine.”

Yet there seemed to be remarkably few people along the course in recent weeks. “In terms of VIPs, we are doing better with the Koppenberg than in 2019”, Impens puts into perspective. “Maybe there’s a little less people, but it’s certainly not dramatically less.”

Perhaps there are fewer people, but it is certainly not dramatically less.

Christophe Impens

“Last weekend the weather was also very nice. Don’t forget that many activities are still being overtaken from the past 1.5 years. There is simply a lot of choice for the sports-loving public. But I think that most events have gradually caught up with them. Then the cyclocross can once again attract the masses.”

“I’m not worried for now. I’m taking stock after the World Cup. The cycling season has just ended. That will be different next year, when we will have a more traditional season again, without a Paris-Roubaix in October.”

Soon, crowd pullers Wout van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock will return to the field. “They will certainly attract a lot of extra people. We may see them again at the end of November, early December. Now we give them their rest, because they have had an insanely long season.”

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