Ben Goddard

Ben raced as an amateur cyclist in the UK from a young age into the senior ranks on the road, track and in cyclocross. He has an NQJ qualification in journalism, and a sports journalism degree, and has spent over 10 years as a news and sports journalist. Ben has been covering cyclocross for media outlets, including Cyclingnews, since 2021 and has been on the ground reporting at World Championships in Zolder, Belvaux, Valkenberg, Dubendorf, and Hoogerheide. Away from cycling as a freelance sports journalist, Ben regularly reports on a range of sports including football, rugby, and snooker amongst others. However, he is happiest whilst reporting on-site at cyclocross races in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Latest articles by Ben Goddard

Joris Nieuwenhuis and Laurens Sweeck left frustrated as late tactics deny them World Cup victory in Sardinia

By Ben Goddard Published

News ‘It was only a few seconds’, said third place Sweeck

News
'I'm super happy to be back' - Shirin van Anrooij on her first World Cup podium in over two years

By Ben Goddard Published

News Dutchwoman finished third place in Terralba, Sardinia

News
'I was on my limit' - Cameron Mason forced to play catch-up after unclipping off the start line, bounces back to first World Cup podium in Flamanville

By Ben Goddard Published

News 'I really didn't come here for second or third. I was ready to go all-in for the win' says British Champion

News
'I suffered a lot' - Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado returns to cyclocross racing after injury with a podium performance in Flamanville World Cup

By Ben Goddard Published

News After a persistent knee injury kept the former World Champion out of the sport Alvarado is satisfied with her come back result

News
Thibau Nys sported a special helmet for his father Sven at World Cup Tábor

By Ben Goddard Last updated

News Father and son marked a special 10-year anniversary

News
Shirin van Anrooij looking forward to a home cyclocross Worlds after riding to 16th in Tábor

By Ben Goddard Published

News Injury has forced the former under-23 world champion away from the 'cross field for almost two years

News
Zoe Backstedt wins under-23 women's world title at the 2025 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships
'It's a cyclocross race with a bit of road in the middle' - Zoe Bäckstedt to go all-in at Paris-Roubaix

By Ben Goddard Published

News British rider captures two rainbow jerseys at UCI Cyclo-cross Worlds in Liévin

News
Thibau Nys on the podium with Van Aert and Van der Poel
'A dream' - Thibau Nys bounces back from illness with third place at Cyclo-cross Worlds behind Van der Poel and Van Aert

By Ben Goddard Published

News 'I had quite a difficult two weeks, but I knew that if I could have my level then a podium was possible' says Belgian after first elite podium

News
Wout van Aert thanks two children for returning his lost Garmin at 2025 Cyclocross World Championships in Liévin
Wout van Aert reunited with lost Garmin after Cyclo-cross World Championships

By Ben Goddard Published

News 'It was definitely my best cyclocross race of the winter' says former world champion pleased with silver-medal performance

News
Mathieu Van Der Poel solo during the elite men's race at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championship in Lievin
Cyclo-cross World Championships: Mathieu van der Poel dominates to secure seventh elite men's title

By Ben Goddard Published

Results Dutch rider equals Erik De Vlaeminck on seven titles in elite men's event as Belgians Wout van Aert settles for second, Thibau Nys third in Liévin

Results
Zoe Backstedt celebrates victory at CX Worlds in Liévin
Cyclo-cross World Championships: Zoe Bäckstedt lives up to the billing and defends women's U23 title

By Ben Goddard Published

Results Marie Schreiber takes second for Luxembourg, with the Netherlands' Leonie Bentveld third in Liévin

Results
Tibor Del Grosso (Netherlands) wins the 2025 Men Under-23 Cyclo-cross World Championships
Tibor Del Grosso aims to 'get to the top' in road and cyclocross with WorldTour step-up approaching

By Ben Goddard Published

News Young Dutch star to open first senior road campaign at Paris-Nice in 2025

News
Puck Pieterse competes in the elite women's race at the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships 2025
'Hungry for more' - Puck Pieterse ends cyclocross season with Worlds bronze, turns attention to Spring Classics

By Ben Goddard Published

News 'Fem always wins this title ... three times in a row. Every time, at the right time, she is super good' Pieterse praises compatriot's success in Liévin

News
Lucinda Brand leads Fem van Empel midway through the elite women's race
'Mixed feelings' for Lucinda Brand at Cyclo-cross Worlds after missing out on rainbow jersey in last lap

By Ben Goddard Published

News Brand says squeeze to the fences by Van Empel 'wasn't necessary' but admits that 'the difference was made already'

News
Gold medalist Fem Van Empel of Netherlands celebrates winning after the 76th UCI CycloCross World Championships 2025
Cyclo-cross World Championships: Three-in-a-row for Fem van Empel after hard-fought victory against Lucinda Brand in elite women's race

By Ben Goddard Published

Results 1-2-3 for the Netherlands as Puck Pieterse secures the bronze medal in Liévin

Results
LIEVIN, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 01: Gold medalist Tibor Del Grosso of Netherlands celebrates winning after the during the 76th UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships 2025 - Men's U23 on February 01, 2025 in Lievin, France. (Photo by Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
Cyclo-cross World Championships: Tibor Del Grosso takes dominant win to retain U23 men's title

By Ben Goddard Published

Results Kay De Bruyckere second ahead of Belgian compatriot Jente Michels who takes third in Liévin

Results
NAMUR BELGIUM DECEMBER 15 Cat Ferguson of The United Kingdom and Movistar Team competes during the 15th UCI CycloCross World Cup Namur 2024 Womens Elite on December 15 2024 in Namur Belgium Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images
One-day races in Cat Ferguson's sights during debut pro season with Movistar

By Ben Goddard Published

News 18-year-old adds another world title to her collection with Great Britain's mixed team relay Cyclo-cross Worlds win

News
Van der Poel and Van Empel are the defending world champions from Tabor last year
Cyclo-cross World Championships 2025 - Analysing the contenders

By Ben Goddard Published

Analysis The favourites for the elite men's and women's rainbow jerseys in Liévin from Van der Poel and Van Aert to Brand and Van Empel

Analysis
Belgian Michael Vanthourenhout of Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel Clementines celebrates at podium as 2024-2025 World Cup overall winner after second place in Hoogerheide
Michael Vanthourenhout wins Cyclocross World Cup overall, hopes Belgians sweep podium at Worlds

By Ben Goddard Published

News Wout van Aert back in mix for Belgian team to upend Mathieu van der Poel in Liévin

News
Fem van Empel (Visma-Lease a Bike) competes at the World Cup in Maasmechelen, finishing sixth
Fem van Empel misses World Cup podiums on weekend, but 'form is there' for defence of Cyclocross World title

By Ben Goddard Published

News Visma-Lease a Bike teammate Marianne Vos pulls out of Hoogerheide race with calf pain ahead of Liévin

News
Wout van Aert earns second place at Saturday's UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Maasmechelen
Wout van Aert admits 'stupid mistake' takes him out of much-hyped World Cup contest versus Van der Poel

By Ben Goddard Published

News Belgian completes cyclocross season with 'bigger goals on the road arrive very quickly'

News
Britain's Zoe Bäckstedt competes during the women's elite race at the World Cup cyclocross cycling event stage 9 (out of 12) of the UCI World Cup cyclocross competition, in Dendermonde, on January 5, 2025. (Photo by DAVID PINTENS / Belga / AFP) / Belgium OUT
Zoe Bäckstedt's last-lap bike change gamble backfires in muddy Maasmechelen match against Vas

By Ben Goddard Published

News British rider confirmed to defend U23 women's title at Cyclocross World Championships next week

News
Belgian Wout van Aert pictured in action during the men's elite race at the cyclocross cycling event in Benidorm, Spain, Sunday 19 January 2025, stage 12/14 in the UCI World Cup competition. BELGA PHOTO DAVID PINTENS (Photo by DAVID PINTENS / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP)
Wout van Aert says recent road training camp 'no excuse' for finishing fourth at Benidorm World Cup

By Ben Goddard Published

News 'If you have good legs, you immediately get to the front in those first two laps' says Belgian after starting from 28th

News
Dutch Fem Van Empel pictured in action during a training session before the cyclocross cycling event in Benidorm, Spain, Saturday 18 January 2025, stage 12/14 in the UCI World Cup competition. BELGA PHOTO DAVID PINTENS (Photo by DAVID PINTENS / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP)
'I will certainly not cut back on my calendar' – Van Empel committed to future in cyclocross after 10th win of season

By Ben Goddard Published

News World champion targeting third title as season-end looms ahead of 2025 road debut at Milan-San Remo

News
Lucinda Brand after her victory in the mudfest at the Dendermonde World Cup
'Everything is finally going to plan' - Lucinda Brand extends streak of consecutive cyclocross podiums to 32

By Ben Goddard Published

News Dutch national champion takes back-to-back wins in Gullegem and Dendermonde to continue stunning run of form

News
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