A new cyclo-cross season has begun, and every year the same theme resurfaces: the World Cup in America. The Bart Wellens team is certainly no slouch.
The World Cup has been in the US for a few rounds every year. There is only one round this year, next Sunday in Waterloo, USA. in the heat Fayetteville was canceled this year.
That’s why some crossers don’t cross the U.S. anymore. That means Bart Wellens’ group stays at the Circus-Reuse-Technoord house. So America doesn’t have Kerben Kuypers, Kevin Kuhn, Thijs Aerts and the great talent Lauren Molengraff.
Very expensive
The biggest problem is of course money. “As a group we don’t contribute to costs, and that’s always been the case,” Wellens says Cycling flash. So the Wellens riders will be riding in Oisterwijk, the Netherlands this weekend.
According to Wellens, it is not logical for the UCI to organize cross-country races in the United States, but does not contribute to the costs. For a team like his, going to America without international sponsors is less interesting.
“That’s the big difference with the Sven Nice team, who will be racing next to sponsor Trek Factory on Sunday. They will welcome this adventure,” says Wellens.
