Cyclocross Social Podcast with Erwin Vervecken: A critical look at the world cup reforms (episode 23)

Today, a special episode of the cyclocross social podcast. In todays episode Noah is joined by 3x world champion Erwin Vervecken, who now works for Golazo. They talk about discuss the reforms of the world cup, and what they mean for the sport. After retiring from cyclocross, Erwin Vervecken started working for Golazo. He is the sports technical manager there, which means he is involved in organizing races, arranging start contracts with riders and designing courses for the races Golazo organizes. Golazo organizes the X2o Badkamers trofee, the Ethias cross series and the world cup rounds in Namur and Antwerp. The world cup reforms have put these, and other, races under pressure, as it claimed almost all all Sundays between October and the world championships at the end of January. The datum grabbing, and financial picture, has put a lot of (Belgian) races under pressure. Vervecken discusses why this is, by going into the financial aspect of organizing races. He explains that there is almost no difference in terms of revenue if you organize a world cup or another race. Vervecken also goes into the internationalization of the sport. He thinks this is good, but that it is happening too fast. He thinks that this could lead to the collapse of the sport if it all goes wrong. Listen to this, and much more in this special episode of the cyclocross social podcast!