At first glance, cyclo-cross seems alive and kicking. Crosses such as Hofstade and Gavere have attracted approximately 17,000 and more than 10,000 spectators respectively in recent weeks. Good figures, which suggest that the sport is in good shape. Yet, according to Philip Roodhooft, there is a different reality behind those full meadows.
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Lack of tension
In an interview with Het Nieuwsblad, Roodhooft does not spare the sport. According to him, the high audience numbers mask some structural problems that are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
The first sore point is sporting predictability. The tension is hard to find among both men and women. Lucinda Brand has won ten in a row and has already won fourteen this season. The picture for the men has been similar since the return of Mathieu van der Poel, who immediately won five times in a row.
This one-sidedness makes it difficult to create new stories and retain neutral viewers. It also ensures that other riders are less visible, which does not improve the attractiveness for sponsors.
Sponsors check off
It is precisely in this area that Roodhooft sees a second major problem. Finding and retaining sponsors is becoming increasingly difficult. The disappearance of the Ridley Racing Team on January 1 is a painful example of this. In addition, French champion Amandine Fouquenet and Ryan Kamp are also in danger of being without a team towards 2026.
For Roodhooft this is no coincidence. He points out that the economic basis of cyclocross is under pressure, despite the visible popularity along the course. “Things are really not going well with the cross,” he says plainly.
On top of that, there are other developments that affect cyclo-cross. More and more riders are shifting their focus to the road after the World Cup, causing the season to lose momentum overall. The fact that more and more crosses are disappearing behind a paywall is also a cause for concern, while there is no simple solution, according to Roodhooft.
