2023-12-30 13:15:00
Trained the hard way in the plowed fields, Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel have become true icons over the course of their success. Since they also shine on the road, they have even acquired the status of living gods for the spectators gathered along muddy circuits where cyclo-cross enthusiasts shout all their love for them at each pass.
Having both ogres at the start of a cross country therefore has a certain cost. “You won’t find anyone to officially tell you their starting bonuses,” we were warned when it came time to risk this game. The fact remains that from the summit of the Citadel of Namur to the slopes of Hulst, where the two best enemies in the world (as well as Tom Pidcock) will meet this Saturday, numerous sources have slipped the same figures into our ears.
True stars of this increasingly less confidential discipline, van Aert and van der Poel would receive a starting bonus of 15,000 euros per race, for 10,000 at Pidcock. Except during a World Cup round, where they have to “be satisfied” with the winnings paid to the winner (5,000 euros per round) and where the final winner pockets a whopping 30,000 euros. “With us, participation bonuses do not fluctuate from one race to another,” explains Erwin Vervecken, responsible for cyclo-cross for Golazo, organizer of the X2O Trophy. But some private organizers can loosen the purse strings even further. This, depending on the circumstances. It happens that, to have one of the three members of the Big Three (van Aert, MVP and Pidcock) at the start, he is guaranteed an even higher participation bonus than usual.
For van Aert and MVP, another factor comes into play. Flanders Classics, which runs six classics, including the Tour of Flanders, as well as the Superprestige, would give them an overall bonus for participating in so many road and cross races. “It’s kind of a package,” one informed observer told us.
A rising star in the discipline, Thibau Nys would receive between 2,000 and 2,500 euros to start a cross-country race. This would also upset Eli Iserbyt, the former European champion, who is less well paid even if he is the best paid among those who only do cyclo-cross.
5,000 euros to the world champion
If there remains, therefore, a certain opacity regarding the participation bonuses in the various competitions – Superprestige and other X2O Trophy – which take place during the winter, the International Cycling Union (UCI) communicates, on the other hand, what the winners of the events she directs. The world champion will thus receive 5,000 euros, for 2,500 for second and 1,250 for third.
Those who will hunt for the rainbow jersey on February 4 in Tabor (Tch) therefore know what to expect.
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