UCI president Cookson discusses cyclocross in the Olympics

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach has suggested the need to modernize the Olympic Sports Program at the 126th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Sochi. International Cycling Union (UCI) president Brian Cookson took that as his queue to push for cyclocross as a potential addition to the Winter Games.

In a press release on Thursday, Cookson stated, “I believe that cyclocross – which takes place during the northern hemisphere winter – would be an exciting addition to the Winter Games.”

Cyclocross is typically held during the fall and winter months. For example, the UCI’s 2013–14 international cyclocross schedule began on Sept. 7 in the U.S. and concluded on Feb. 23 in Belgium. The World Cup schedule began on Nov. 20 in the Netherlands and ended at the world championships on Feb. 2, also in the Netherlands.

News first broke of the idea of cyclocross being added to the winter program in January.  It was noted that such a change could only be possible by adjusting the current Rule 6 of the Olympic Charter, which states that “only those sports which are practised on snow or ice are considered as winter sports.”

In response, Cookson said “that may be the case as things currently stand but President Bach has signalled his appetite for change.”

Canadian cyclocross champions Geoff Kabush and Catharine Pendrel weighed in on the subject, both agreeing that adding cyclocross to the Olympic program would bring the sport more international exposure.

Cookson’s full statement:

I believe that cyclocross – which takes place during the northern hemisphere winter – would be an exciting addition to the Winter Games.”

Cyclo-cross requires endurance, explosive power and incredible bike handling skills. Many youngsters wishing to take up cycling pass through the school of Cyclo-Cross, and the breathtaking performances of the Junior athletes at the recent UCI World Championships in Hoogerheide clearly demonstrated the depth of young talent around the globe.

Athletes representing 23 countries and five continents competed in the 2014 UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships last weekend. Two nations – Macedonia and Serbia – sent athletes to the Worlds for the first time. The Women and Junior categories experienced the biggest jump in participation levels, a true demonstration of the growth the Cyclo-Cross discipline is currently experiencing.

Cyclo-Cross would offer equal medal opportunities for men and women, the infrastructure and related costs required to install a circuit are minimal, and the principle is clear-cut: first across the line is the winner.

But above all it is a sport that reaches out to an incredibly wide cross-section of the population. Anybody who witnessed the wonderful scenes in Hoogerheide knows that this is a sport that appeals to the young.

Rule 6 of the Olympic Charter states that “only those sports which are practised on snow or ice are considered as winter sports.”

That may be the case as things currently stand but President Bach has signalled his appetite for change.

So I look forward to a debate about whether Cyclo-Cross, and indeed other sports practised in the winter season, should be part of the Winter Olympic Games.

Brian Cookson

UCI President