Barring any surprises and even without Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel, the fifteenth edition of the Namur event should attract a large audience this Sunday, one year after organizing the European Championship. For what had been a great success. And confirmed that this site has everything to obtain the organization of the World Championship. “We have submitted our application for the 2030 World Cup”confirms Sébastien Legat, from the Golazo company, which co-organizes the Namur cyclo-cross in collaboration with the Walloon city. “Our chances are good. We are ultra-confident. We have been talking about it with the International Cycling Union for several years. Before the European Championship organized in 2022, we already wanted the Worlds in 2025 or 2026, but that did not come at the right time in terms of the calendar. There are more chances for 2030: it is the year of Belgium's bicentenary. With many projects, so that it is the country's celebration on all levels, including sports. ”
Belgian Cycling wants three Worlds in 2030: the road one in Brussels, the track one in Heusden-Zolder and the cyclo-cross one in Namur!
The Belgian Cycling Federation also wants to mark the occasion, with major projects. “Our nation is a country of cycling and it is important, as a Federation of this sport, to regularly organize major championships”Tom Van Damme, the president of Belgian Cycling, recently explained to us. “My policy has always been to try to have one a year. For 2030 and the bicentenary of Belgium, we have the candidacy of Brussels for the road test. But we would also like a World Cup on the track, probably in Heusden-Zolder. And also that of cyclo-cross.” With the Namur track. “The European Championship which was organized there in 2022 was a great success. ”
Enthusiasm for this candidacy is very present. Including in the city of Namur. “It’s a project that motivates us a lot,” confirms Charlotte Bazelaire, the sports alderman of the Walloon capital.
The allocation of the next Worlds should be announced in February. As a reminder, after the World Championship organized this year in the Netherlands, in Hoogherheide, this season's championship will take place from February 2 to 4, 2024 in Tabor, in the Czech Republic. In 2025, the rainbow jersey event will be held in Lievin, France. Before the Netherlands again, in 2026 (Hulst) and Oostende in 2027. The coastal city can organize it again after having already set up the 2021 edition, when the public was prohibited, in the middle of a pandemic.
“I find that Namur’s candidacy is very strong”comments Erwin Vervecken, former three-time cyclo-cross world champion, responsible for the Namur course for the Golazo company. “She is very lucky to obtain this 2030 World Cup. It would be a first in Wallonia! It has arguments with now experience since its first edition, in 2019, with its unique route, on the historic site of the citadel, and with a tough route, which attracts many spectators each year. And as Belgium is used to organizing the Cyclo-cross World Championship every four or five years, yes, there are chances!”
Especially if the public responds again this Sunday! “Certainly, Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel are not there, but there should be people there, finishes Sébastien Legat. They weren't there last year either, Pidcock wasn't either, and Namur had broken its record for spectators… Spectators come to Namur because it's… Namur!”
Towards a new spectator record on Sunday for the Namur cyclo-cross?
