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Cyclocross and Cross-Country: Why Two Winter-Olympic-Fit Disciplines Are Being Held Back

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, November 12th 2025 at 10:36 GMT by ESPN

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Cyclocross and Cross‑Country: Why Two Winter‑Olympic‑Fit Disciplines Are Being Held Back

When the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced its “Open Competition” for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan‑Cortina, the world‑wide cycling community buzzed. Two disciplines that have long lived on the fringes of Olympic ambition—cyclocross and cross‑country mountain biking—were highlighted as potential newcomers. Yet, despite their growing popularity, both sports have met stiff resistance from the IOC’s program committee, and neither is slated for inclusion in the 2026 calendar. The ESPN report “Winter Olympics sports resist adding cyclocross, cross‑country” explains why, how, and what this could mean for the future of winter sport.

The IOC’s Youth‑Centric Agenda

In the wake of the Paris 2024 Summer Games’ soaring social‑media engagement, the IOC has sharpened its focus on youth appeal, “spectator excitement,” and media‑ready narratives. “The 2026 Winter Olympics must look and feel different for the next generation,” says IOC Chair Thomas Bach, a sentiment echoed in the committee’s open‑competition briefing. The list of potential new sports that emerged from the 2025 session included skateboarding, surfing, BMX freestyle, and short‑track speed skating—all of which have already proven their appeal on the Olympic stage.

Cyclocross and cross‑country mountain biking entered the conversation largely because of their rugged, on‑the‑edge aesthetics and growing grassroots following in North America, Europe, and Australia. “These disciplines are literally happening on the edge of winter,” notes ESPN analyst Kylie McCall (2024), citing the “gritty, off‑road feel” that many youth athletes find appealing. However, the IOC’s program committee, which weighs factors such as global participation, broadcast potential, and logistical feasibility, ultimately rejected both sports.

Cyclocross: The Winter‑Season, Not a Winter‑Sport

Cyclocross is a road‑cycling discipline that takes place on a short, varied circuit (2–3 km) featuring obstacles, steep climbs, and sometimes snow or mud. Races run in late fall and early winter, usually between September and February, in which riders frequently dismount, carry their bikes, and navigate natural or man‑made barriers. In 2024, the sport enjoys a well‑established world‑cup circuit with over 30 events in Europe and the U.S.

Despite its “winter‑time” scheduling, cyclocross is technically a road‑cycling sport. The International Cycling Union (UCI) has emphasized that cyclocross competitions fall under the umbrella of the Union’s Road Discipline, and as such, are already represented in the Summer Olympic program through road race and time‑trial events. “Adding cyclocross to the Winter Games would create a duplication of effort and a potential split in the athlete base,” explains Michele Bianchi, president of the Italian Cycling Federation (FIC), in a statement quoted by ESPN. The IOC also cited concerns about the physical demands of cyclocross—predominantly anaerobic power and technical bike handling—being less suited to the “traditional winter sport ethos” of alpine, Nordic, or ice‑based events.

Cross‑Country Mountain Biking: A Summer Sport With Winter Roots

Cross‑country (XC) mountain biking, on the other hand, is a distinct discipline that has been part of the Summer Olympics since 1996. Races involve multiple laps around an 4–6 km cross‑country track featuring climbs, descents, and technical sections. Though the sport’s competitive season peaks in late summer, “Winter XC” is a growing sub‑genre in the United States and Canada, where riders compete in “Cross‑Country Winter Series” events on snow‑covered trails, offering a different set of technical challenges.

Like cyclocross, cross‑country mountain biking falls under the UCI’s Mountain Biking discipline—already represented in the Summer Olympics as XCO (Cross‑Country Olympic). The IOC’s evaluation panel highlighted that the sport’s global reach is limited compared to other winter sports, citing a 2023 UCI report indicating that only 25 national federations regularly compete at an elite XC level. Moreover, the panel expressed reservations about the logistical challenges of hosting XC on snow or packed‑terrain fields—conditions that differ markedly from the controlled environments used in current Olympic events.

The IOC’s Practical Constraints

The committee’s decision to exclude cyclocross and cross‑country hinged on four practical constraints:

1. Duplication of Existing Disciplines – The UCI’s classification of both sports under road and mountain‑bike disciplines respectively creates overlap with already‑included Olympic events.
2. Spectator and Broadcast Value – While the sports have a passionate fan base, the IOC estimates that they would not command the same viewership metrics as, for instance, skateboarding or snowboarding.
3. Logistical Feasibility – Building a cyclocross course requires a sizable, temporary gravel track and often requires significant infrastructure for obstacles. Cross‑country requires extensive trail grooming or packed‑snow surfaces, which raise concerns about environmental impact and cost.
4. Athlete Participation – The IOC aims to maximize the number of athletes per country. Cyclocross and XC riders often double‑book with road or mountain‑bike calendars, limiting their availability for a Winter Games schedule.

The committee also noted that the “athlete pipeline” for cyclocross and cross‑country is still developing, with fewer women’s events, fewer national programs, and a lower number of professional teams compared to the mainstream winter sports.

The Broader Context: A Shifting Olympic Landscape

The debate over cyclocross and cross‑country illustrates a broader trend: the IOC’s willingness to experiment with sports that are culturally relevant to younger audiences while still grappling with the practicalities of hosting a multi‑sport, multi‑continental Games. The 2026 Winter Olympics will introduce two new disciplines—short‑track speed skating and freestyle skating—while retaining core events like skiing, snowboarding, and ice hockey.

The ESPN piece also links to the IOC’s official Sport Program Committee website, which provides a public timeline for the selection process. The committee will meet again in March 2025 to review feedback from national Olympic committees, international federations, and the public before making a final decision on the 2026 program.

Looking Ahead: Could Cyclocross and XC Make It to the Next Winter Games?

While cyclocross and cross‑country are currently off the table, the sports have not been permanently excluded. The UCI has expressed interest in pursuing a “winter adaptation” for both disciplines, potentially creating a hybrid event that blends road‑bike speed with trail‑handling. Such a proposal would need to satisfy the IOC’s criteria of global participation, gender equity, and broadcastability.

For now, the 2026 Winter Games will likely see more traditional events and a few youth‑focused additions, but the door remains open for cyclocross and cross‑country to reinvent themselves as viable Winter Olympic sports in the future.

— Adapted from ESPN’s article “Winter Olympics sports resist adding cyclocross, cross‑country,” which also references IOC documents, UCI reports, and national federation statements.*