The cross in Rucphen: From location for National Championships and World Cup with Van der Poel and Pidcock as winners to C2 evening cross

It has only been since 2012 that a cross event has been organized near the well-known indoor ski hill of SkiDôme. For the organization, Stichting Wielerpromotion Rucphen, it was not always easy in the early years to find a suitable date for the mud festival. The cross was usually organized in January, but the race fell on the same day as, for example, the Kasteelcross in Zonnebeke.

Nevertheless, the organization managed almost every year that the race was held - usually as a 'separate' race on the calendar - to ensure that at least one top rider was at the start. And anyone who takes a look at the results list will see that this statement can be substantiated: from Lars van der Haar to Marianne Vos and from Mathieu van der Poel (Dutch Championship Cyclo-cross) to Tom Pidcock. Interestingly, the latter won the race on December 18, 2021. At that time, the cross in the cycling municipality of Rucphen was even part of the World Cup cyclo-cross. That turned out to be short-lived, because less than a year later, the race was already scrapped from the WC calendar. The reason? Financial risks.

"We have not succeeded in getting our finances right. At this moment, there is unfortunately insufficient support. Many entrepreneurs are currently struggling. I have to accept that," Kees Kools, chairman of Stichting Wielerpromotion Rucphen, lamented last year to the Rucphense Bode. That is also mainly why the organization is now so happy that the race is taking place again, albeit as a Thursday evening cross. After all, the race could not take place in the 2020-2021 season due to the coronavirus crisis.

"We came from a very high level," admits former cyclo-cross rider Van den Bergh in conversation with BN DeStem. "We had to use all our reserves at that time because we missed out on all the entrance fees due to the covid rules. Why don't we try one more time, we said to each other then." And so it happened, although finding a date was quite difficult. "There was simply no date available for us during the weekend or around the holidays. Then came the idea of the evening race."

Based on the registrations, it is expected that more than 400 cyclo-cross riders will participate in the Night of Rucphen. This will take place on a significantly altered course around the local athletics track, again as a direct result of the cost. The cyclo-cross was normally characterized mainly by 'Camiel's Carousel' and by a large section where riders had to plow around a huge pond. "The section around the pond and adjacent meadow has been removed from the course," explains Van den Bergh, who is also the manager of the Cyclocross Reds team. "Renting the meadow and sixteen extra lights would have cost us 15,000 euros more. We are operating with a budget of 150,000 euros, covered by sponsors. We don't charge an entrance fee."

IDLProcycling.com took a look at the revamped circuit in Rucphen on Wednesday afternoon, where Ryan Kamp is the absolute top favorite among the men on Thursday. There, volunteers were still busy with the final preparations. Camiel's Carousel has been moved, but the course still looks just as beautiful. Moreover, the circuit contains almost everything that makes a cyclo-cross race interesting: quite a few turns, hills, stairs, a sandpit, a slanted side, and barriers! If the organization can avoid financial and scheduling problems, the race certainly deserves a step up.