Indoor cyclocross?

The first indoor cyclocross race has been proposed for January 17th 2007, just 10 days before the World Championships in Hooglede-Gits, Belgium. The event will take place at the Nekkerhallen arena, whose usual purpose is horse shows, in Mechelen, Belgium. The idea was proposed by the top cycling agent Paul de Geyter (of Cielo sports management) with the original intention that there would be a showdown between Bart Wellens, Filip Meirhaghe, Sven Nys and Tom Boonen(??!). Sounds crazy to me especially since it is scheduled for January (hardly Boonen’s fitness peak) and it makes me wonder exactly what the course would entail since he wants Boonen involved.

However, the idea has received mixed reviews. So far Sven Nys, Niels Albert and Sven Vanthourenhout have confirmed but Hans Van Kasteren (manager of the Fidea cycling team) is not so happy about the timing of the event. Upset that the event will take place so close before the Worlds, he is not allowing any Fidea riders to take part due to fear it may be too risky at such a critical time.

So it looks like there won’t be a showdown quite like the one first imagined but it does sound interesting nonetheless. Although it leaves me wondering, if you take out the cold, rain, wind and snow from cyclocross what do you have left? Cyclocross in california I guess.

More info at cyclocross.info (in Dutch).