My name is Elodie Kuijper.
I was a professional cyclocross rider until I had to stop in 2022 not because I couldn’t keep up anymore, but because it became financially unsustainable.
What many people don’t know is that two thirds of the cyclocross peloton pay for everything themselves.
Travel. Campers. Equipment. Staff. Everything.
“But don’t all those riders live off generous start money?”
Make no mistake that applies to maybe 10% of the peloton, at most.
Cyclocross is a small sport with big costs.
You simply can’t do it without a strong support system.
Mechanics are often family members.
Soigneurs are parents or partners.
And that’s before we even talk about eight wheelsets, three bikes, spare frames, parts all paid for out of the rider’s own pocket.
The globalization of cyclocross is presented by the UCI and organizations as a success story.
But let’s be honest: who actually profits from this?
Not the sport.
Organizing “international” World Cups sponsored by Belgian companies that aren’t even active in those countries what exactly is the added value for them?
And now, on top of everything else, a large part of the calendar sits behind a paywall.
Who benefits from that?
Not the fans.
Not the teams.
And certainly not the sponsors.
Paying €20 per month just to watch some cyclocross races, when do we reach the point where people simply walk away?
And then there’s the UCI’s latest idea during World Cups and championships:
teams are not allowed to share moving images on social media during the race and for 24 hours after.
Why? Exactly because then the fans will be forced to pay to watch the races on the TV.
But the consequences are obvious:
less exposure for riders and teams,
less value for sponsors,
less visibility for the sport,
And more difficulties for teams and riders in the long run.
This is not growth.
This is milking the sport and then slowly pushing it toward the slaughterhouse.
This hurts deeply, because I had to say goodbye to the most beautiful discipline in cycling.
A small sport doesn’t belong behind a paid wall. Cyclocross deserves better.
Riders deserve better.
The sport deserves a future not short-term profit!
By Elodie Kuijper
Posted on Facebook origionally, December 16, 2025
