Pogacar and van der Poel back UCI push for cyclocross to be added to 2030 Winter Olympics

Working alongside World Athletics, which is pushing for cross-country running's inclusion, the UCI faces a critical decision from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) board in February. "It's make or break," says UCI sports director Peter Van Den Abeele to Dutch public broadcaster, NOS.

"Everyone is super enthusiastic. Cyclocross is sometimes treated with contempt, but it is a very good learning experience towards the other disciplines. Tadej [Pogačar] also agrees," Van Den Abeele explained after speaking with multiple top cyclists in recent months.

Cycling's governing body, the UCI, has enlisted high-profile support, including seven-time cyclocross world champion Van der Poel and four-time Tour de France winner Pogačar. "We asked those men to make a video, which we could send to the organising committee of the 2030 Winter Games and also to the IOC," Van Den Abeele revealed.

However, the proposal faces opposition from traditional winter sports federations. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) stated that adding "some summer sports" would undermine the Winter Games' identity.

"The image of the Winter Games is unique - it is a celebration for sports that are practiced on ice or snow, with a clear culture associated with it," the FIS said in a statement.

Van Den Abeele acknowledges these concerns but defends cyclocross's winter credentials: "I understand the point of view. Cyclocross is a sport that is not always contested on snow or ice, but it is possible. And we always fall in the typical winter period, that's a fact. We are a typical winter sport, not a summer sport. We built our argumentation around that."

Collaboration between the UCI and World Athletics has already progressed to practical discussions, with athletics officials attending the cyclocross World Championships in Lievin to assess venue-sharing possibilities. "The conclusion was positive, we can share the facilities well," said Van Den Abeele.

The initiative has additional momentum from the IOC's "Fit For The Future" working group, established by new IOC president Kirsty Coventry. This group is specifically examining whether traditional seasonal boundaries between Olympic sports should be more flexible.

As for whether the 35-year-old Van der Poel might compete at the 2030 Games, Van Den Abeele remains optimistic: "I hope so. He has the genes of his dad and he raced until he was forty."