New UCI President Brian Cookson is raring to go. He has proven this several times in the past few weeks. As a result of the Cyclocross World Championships in Hoogerheide last weekend, he reaffirmed his will to help the discipline to be included in the ranks of Olympic winter sports.
“The new IOC Chair Thomas Bach would like to modernize the program of the Olympic Games and we at the UCI are happy to push the modernization forward." Cookson said on the World Cycling Federation website. "I think cyclocross as a winter discipline would be a great addition to the Winter Games. Cyclocross requires endurance, explosiveness and very good riding technique.”
“Athletes from 23 nations and five continents took part in the World Championships this season. […] A strong increase was recorded especially among women and juniors. This demonstrates just how much cyclocross is growing.”, the Brit continues. "[The discipline] also offers men and women equal chances of medals, while the cost of building a track is relatively low. And the principle is simple: the first to cross the finish line wins.”
Also with regard to the controversial sixth rule of the IOC Statutes, according to which only sports that take place on ice or snow may belong to the Winter Olympics, Cookson said: "At the moment that's the status quo, but President Bach has already signaled that he wants to change the rules."
In Hoogerheide, more than 40.000 spectators followed the events on site. This number is already Olympic. Let's hope that cyclocross will be too in the near future.