Belgian Cyclocrossers Wowed by American Dollars in Cyclocross

Seeing another headline about American cyclocross and dollars in the Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad.be, and one is likely to assume it’s another controversial piece about the finances and the likelihood of the 2013 Cyclocross World Championships happening in Louisville, Kentucky. But this one is not.

The newspaper article instead focused on the amazing number of dollars at American cyclocross races. What? Compared to a country where the top cyclocrossers can earn close to seven figures, it wasn’t the total prize purse of American races that caught the paper’s attention, but rather all the American fans handing out dollar bills.

The dollar hand-ups were quite a curiosity to both the Belgian racers and their teams. “Some American supporters want show their sympathy for the veldrijders in very special manner,” says the Nieuwsblad article.

Danny De Bie, the director of the Telenet-Fidea team, told Niewsblad that he saw ten fans giving dollars to racers at CrossVegas, and some at the USGP in Sun Prairie as well. “I have no idea why they do that,” said De Bie, perhaps not realizing most of the field did not receive salary or equipment and coveted every dollar. He did recognize American fans’ passion however. “The American cyclocross fans are very enthusiastic.”

As to his star riders, Rob Peeters and Bart Wellens, the winner of Day 2 of the USGP’s Planet Bike Cup? De Bie revealed, “Bart and Rob grabbed no money….you are too busy if you are racing for victory.”

Perhaps their story would be different if the $100 bill-laden Slyfox was in attendance.