Sven Nys criticizes the World Cup: “It is not fair that Van Aert and Van der Poel are paid”
Sven Nys is not a fan of the reforms in cyclocross. Not from the start. The former world champion especially criticizes the World Cup, which, according to him, pushes everything else away. “And starting money is paid to Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel”, he knows. “You can’t do that to the other riders and riders, who are left empty-handed.”
Unfortunately, I have to say today that all my predictions of two years ago regarding the reform in cyclo-cross have come true. So sad and painful to see this happen.
– Sven Nys (@sven_nys) November 20, 2021
Sven, tell me about that tweet. What’s on your liver?
“Literally what I tweeted. That the reforms have only produced losers. That was confirmed to me once again on Sunday when I saw the entrance fee in Koksijde (World Cup, ed.). 20 euros at the cash register. In the Superprestige and the X2O Trophy it is a lot lower, while the organizers pay normal entry fees, unlike in the World Cup.”
“In summary: in the World Cup organizers, riders and the public are losers. While I hardly see any difference between the different classifications. The field of participants is almost identical. That’s what I predicted.”
In the World Cup no starting money is paid, but the prize money is a lot higher.
“I have good sources and indications that a number of riders in the World Cup are paid. While others don’t get a euro. I can say the latter with certainty, because it concerns my own riders. Lucinda Brand, Lars van der Haar, Toon Aerts. They are left empty-handed. That is not fair.”
How much evidence is there that Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel, because that’s what you’re talking about, are paid?
“I can’t prove that. But I know.”
Suppose it is, Van der Poel and Van Aert do transcend their sport. Just like you did ten years ago and were well paid for it.
“That’s true. But I wasn’t the only one paid. The other boys also got their share of the pie. I’ve always been pro seed money. But in proportion. With two riders at the start there is no cross. But look at Eli Iserbyt for example. The man of the season today. He has also invested in it. Lucinda Brand is world champion…”
I don’t really hear anyone complaining out loud. Why don’t the riders speak?
“Lucinda, for example, only just realized this. Because I told her. Besides, she doesn’t feel like much of a fuss. That also applies to others. They want to focus on sports. That’s why I want to take on that role. But I also stand up for Iserbyt and Sweeck, riders from other teams.”
Sven Nys and Tomas van den Spiegel during an interview for RIDE Magazine – Photo: Raymond Kerckhoffs ©2021
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“And you don’t hear them, but you can see it happening. Why does Quinten Hermans drop Besançon on Sunday? If the World Cup is so important, they drive everything, right? But everyone looks at their wallet. And just to be clear, I don’t blame Wout and Mathieu either. They are the stars… It’s normal that they get paid for that. But the other riders are also important links. Every rider at the start should be able to enjoy the success of the cross.”
With sixteen motos, the World Cup is also too extensive, in your opinion.
“Absolute. I’m totally against that. This is untenable. That way, the World Cup wipes everything else off the map. I have nothing against organizing Flanders Classics, but a living space must be created for organizers and riders. There may be competition, including between organizers. That helps take the sport to the next level. But now the World Cup is too dominant.”
It is the UCI that demands that there are at least fourteen motos.
“Yes, I therefore blame the International Cycling Union. I was against it from day one. It’s just not feasible.”
you represent it kamp Golazo, which was also a candidate to host the World Cup.
“I speak here in my own name, out of love for cyclocross. I would have said this in the other case as well.”
Isn’t the absence of Baloise-Trek from Val di Sole, which is an important cross, a bit of a boycott?
“But no. No one can drive sixteen World Cups. Everyone needs an internship in between. That it just falls on that weekend is because it is simply the ideal period. And because Essen (which by the way comes under Ethias Cross, so under the Golazo umbrella, ed.) is not a classification match, we only lose one important match that weekend.”
“It’s a pity that it is precisely the weekend in which Val di Sole falls. I understand that they don’t like that at Flanders Classics. They also do their best and do it well. But it’s not the right way to try to control the cross in that way.”
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