Winter's icy grip is tightening around the cyclo-cross National Championships in Belgium and the Netherlands, threatening to throw a frosty wrench into the works this weekend. But here's where it gets controversial: while cyclo-cross is a sport born in the cold, bleak winters, even these seasoned riders might find this weekend's conditions a bit too extreme. With snowfall heavy enough to ground flights at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport for days, the question looms—will the Nationals face a similar fate?
Cyclo-cross enthusiasts are no strangers to racing through snow and slush. Events like the Val di Sole World Cup, held almost entirely on snow, and the recent Exact Cross Mol, where a snowstorm dominated the race and saw Wout van Aert crash heavily, are testaments to the sport's resilience. Yet, excessive ice, high winds, or official danger warnings could still halt the action, even for this hardy winter sport. And this is the part most people miss: while snow is part of the game, it's the unpredictable combination of ice and wind that truly tests the limits of both riders and organizers.
As the weekend approaches, schedule changes and additional course checks are expected, particularly in the heartlands of Belgium and the Netherlands. For fans and riders alike, this adds an extra layer of anticipation—will the races go ahead as planned, or will Mother Nature have the final say? What do you think? Is it fair to proceed with the Championships under such extreme conditions, or should safety take precedence? Let us know in the comments below.
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About the Author: Matilda, an NCTJ-qualified journalist based in the UK, joined Cyclingnews in March 2025. With a background as the Racing News Editor at GCN and extensive freelance work for publications like Cycling Weekly, Velo, Rouleur, and Red Bull, she brings a wealth of experience to her reporting. Matilda has covered some of the biggest events in cycling, including the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France Femmes, Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix. Her particular expertise in women's cycling and women's sports, coupled with her modern languages and sports journalism degree, makes her a trusted voice in the field.
