Cyclocross to be added to Winter Olympics?

UCI official to meet with International Olympic Committee

Published: January 6, 2014 at 9:00 am

A meeting between the UCI and the Olympic organisers is scheduled to investigate whether cyclocross can be added to the Winter Games.

The International Cycling Union's off-road co-ordinator Peter Van Den Abeele will meet with the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) sports director, Christophe Dubi next week, reports Belgian newspaper, Het Nieuwsblad.

The paper reports that a rule that bars sports that don't take place on snow or ice could be modified to allow cyclocross and cross-country running to be added to the schedule.

It's not the first time the IOC has considered adding 'cross to the Winter Games. In 2009, various national federations were reported to be in talks with the IOC about its inclusion.

If cyclocross were added, it would likely mean that national federations would invest more money in the discipline.

However a potential obstacle could be whether cyclocross – which is growing in popularity – has enough global appeal to be considered an Olympic sport.