Cyclo-cross

What is cyclo-cross?

Cyclo-cross is a form of bicycle racing where, as the name suggests, participants ride off-road across fields. Riders compete on closed circuits with typically unpaved surfaces such as forests, sand, mud, and ditches. When encountering difficult terrain, riders sometimes have to carry their bicycles on their shoulders and complete parts of the circuit by running or walking. A cyclo-cross race usually lasts an hour.

Cyclo-cross is normally held during the autumn and winter months and is especially popular in the Netherlands and Belgium. Many prominent riders from the past and present are from these two countries. Germans, Italians, Czechs, and Swiss are also commonly well-represented in cyclo-cross.

Famous cyclo-cross riders range from Mathieu van der Poel to Wout Van Aert.

Over the years, several riders have made a significant impact on cyclo-cross. This includes Belgians like Sven Nys and Bart Wellens, as well as Dutch riders like Lars Boom and Adrie van der Poel. Zdenek Stybar, a renowned road cyclist, has also achieved notable successes in cyclo-cross in the past and present.