Explainer: What is cyclo-cross and how can I watch the World Cup in Dublin?

By Joe McCarthy 

On Sunday December 1st, the 2024 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup comes to the Sport Ireland Campus. Our explainer tells you all about the sport and the event – and how you can experience it live.  

What is cyclo-cross?  

Cyclo-cross (also known as CX) is a type of off-road cycling that takes place over a 3km course. The terrain can include grass, mud, sand, gravel, and tarmac – but it’s always testing.  

Along with cycling on tricky terrain, cyclo-cross riders must occasionally dismount to tackle artificial obstacles set up around the course. Riders can also swap bikes every half lap, with a Formula 1-style pit crew standing by to clean and repair their equipment. This seamless coordination keeps the race fast paced and adds an exciting strategic element to the sport. 

Do you need a special bike? 

A cyclo-cross bike takes different features from road bikes and mountain bikes; it will typically have a lightweight aerodynamic frame specifically made to allow for tyres with a higher air volume than road bike tyres, and a tread with more grip to cope with the tough terrain. The frame of a cyclo-cross bike also has a higher bracket so cyclists can clear obstacles easier.  

Where did the sport come from?  

It was originally created as a way for road cyclists to keep fit during the winter. The original draw was that it helped to prepare riders for the spring and summer road cycling season. An early Tour de France winner even credited cyclo-cross with helping him to win that event. The sport later became popular in New England and California during the 1970s. The heartland of cyclo-cross is in Flanders, Belgium, but it’s growing in popularity across the world.   

And now the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup is coming to Dublin? 

That’s right. On Sunday December 1st, the Sport Ireland Campus will welcome the second stage of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup. This is Dublin’s third time staging the World Cup, with the Campus previously hosting the event in 2022 and 2023 respectively. The UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup will feature five races: Junior Men, Junior Women, Under 23 Men, Elite Women (including Under 23), and Elite Men. 

What happened last year?  

In 2023 Lucinda Brand of the Netherlands won the Elite Women’s race, winning her first stage of the 2023 World Cup. In the Elite Men’s race Pim Ronhaar of the Netherlands won in dramatic fashion, after coming from behind with 500 meters remaining in an exciting sprint finish.   

And this year?  

This year we have a very strong field as well, including the world’s top women cyclo-cross riders. In Dublin will be the top-ranked female in the world, 22-year-old Fem van Empel, double junior world road race champion Zoe Backstedt, and last year’s winner Lucinda Brand. The men’s field is headed up by Eli Iserbyt, the current world No 1. 

And what about Irish riders? 

There’s plenty of Irish interest this year. Here’s who to look out for.  

Junior Men’s Irish National Team: James Armstrong, Ryan Daly, Cameron Henry, Curtis McKee, Conor Murphy, and Hugh Óg Mulhearne. 

Junior Women’s Irish National Team: Greta Lawless and Aoife O’Donovan. 

Under 23 Women’s Irish National Team (Racing in the Elite Women’s Race): Doireann Killeen, Caoimhe May, Hannah McClorey, Elena Wallace, and Esther Wong. 

Under 23 Men’s Irish National Team: Michael Collins, Travis Harkness, Dean Harvey, and Tadhg Killeen.  

In addition to the national teams, Roisín Lally and Stephanie Roche will race as individual riders in the Elite Women’s event. Meanwhile, Richard Barry, Darnell Moore, Ronan O’Flynn, Tim O’Regan, and Paul O’Reilly will compete as individuals in the Elite Men’s race. 

Ireland has strong prospects in this year’s competition. Notably, two of our Junior competitors, Greta Lawless and Conor Murphy who both shone at the 2023 European Youth Olympics cycling events. Lawless achieved a top-10 finish in the mountain bike race, while Murphy claimed a silver medal in the road time trial. Both are expected to perform strongly in their respective CX races, offering plenty of excitement for Irish fans. 

What else can I expect? 

Adding to the excitement of the weekend there will also be a full programme of domestic races, from Under 6s right up to Masters on Saturday. The younger riders can ride around a specially-built course, which makes it a brilliant opportunity for them to try cyclo-cross for the first time.  

Overall, the main course is now more compact and spectator friendly. There are many interesting obstacles around the fan zone, where spectators can again enjoy the race this year with food and drinks offerings under the public marquee, a big screen, and a new partner zone. 

Sounds great! How can I attend?  

Tickets are available to purchase online at a discounted rate of €20 per person. You can also pay in on the day, when it is €25 per person. Children go free. 

Click here to buy tickets and read here for more details.