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

Wout van Aert endures rain and mud en route to solo victory at World Cup Dendermonde, his third victory in four starts at the event
'I'm ahead of schedule' - Wout van Aert builds confidence to road season with World Cup win in Dendermonde

By Ben Goddard Published

News Belgian enjoys 'slogging' in muddy conditions with pair of powerful victories on weekend

News
ZONHOVEN BELGIUM DECEMBER 22 Race winner Mathieu Van Der Poel of The Netherlands and Team AlpecinDeceuninck competes during the 28th Zonhoven UCI CycloCross Worldcup 2024 Mens Elite on December 22 2024 in Zonhoven Belgium Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images
'I’m very sad that Wout won’t be starting' - Mathieu van der Poel seems unbeatable as Van Aert misses first cyclocross race

By Ben Goddard Published

News All eyes were on the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider as he returned to cyclocross for the first time this season.

News
ZONHOVEN BELGIUM DECEMBER 22 Zoe Backstedt of The United Kingdom and Team CanyonSram Racing competes during the 28th Zonhoven UCI CycloCross Worldcup 2024 Womens Elite on December 22 2024 in Zonhoven Belgium Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images
‘I was giving it my all’ - Zoe Backstedt on career-best World Cup second place

By Ben Goddard Published

News Brit led for half of the race in treacherous conditions

News
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
Fears raised that section of 2026 Cyclocross Worlds course is ‘dangerous’ after Cat Ferguson crashed out and taken to hospital

By Ben Goddard Published

News Saturday’s Hulst World Cup used around 60% of 2026 course

News
NAMUR BELGIUM DECEMBER 15 Marie Schreiber of Luxembourg and Team SD Worx Protime competes during the 15th UCI CycloCross World Cup Namur 2024 Womens Elite on December 15 2024 in Namur Belgium Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images
An emotional Marie Schreiber devoted her maiden elite cyclocross World Cup win to her dog who died earlier this week

By Ben Goddard Published

News

News
Dutch Fem Van Empel pictured in action during the women's elite race at the World Cup cyclocross cycling event in Namur, Belgium, stage 4 (out of 12) of the UCI World Cup cyclocross competition, Sunday 15 December 2024. BELGA PHOTO DAVID PINTENS (Photo by DAVID PINTENS / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP)
World and European women’s cyclocross champion Fem Van Empel sees World Cup overall hopes all but ended this weekend

By Ben Goddard Published

News Van Empel to miss both World Cups this weekend

News
riders during the men's elite race at UCI world cupr race in namur
'It's a nasty injury' - Eli Iserbyt pulls out of Namur World Cup due to nerve pain

By Ben Goddard Published

News Belgian champion falls way behind Vanthourenhout in overall standings as old injury flares up

News
Puck Pieterse during women's elite race at Namur world cup 2024
'I’m happy with third' - Puck Pieterse makes positive cyclocross season debut in Namur

By Ben Goddard Published

News Dutch rider starting cyclocross season later than in previous years, but hopes to 'compete for the win right away'

News
ANTWERPEN BELGIUM NOVEMBER 24 Fem Van Empel of The Netherlands and Team Visma Lease A Bike competes during the 18th UCI Cyclocross World Cup Antwerpen 2024 Womens Elite on November 24 2024 in Antwerpen Belgium Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images
Cabras Cyclocross World Cup cancellation boost for riders who skipped the race

By Ben Goddard Published

news Many riders focused on team training camps instead of traveling to Sardinia

news
ORISTANO ITALY DECEMBER 08 A rider practices on the race circuit hit by the storm leading to the cancellation of the race on December 08 2024 in Oristano Italy Photo by Dario BelingheriGetty Images
Cyclocross stars and organisers left counting cost of cancelling third round of World Cup

By Ben Goddard Published

News Extreme weather in Cabras, Sardinia forced the late cancellation

News
Mathieu van der Poel wins his sixth cyclocross world title in Tabor
Mathieu van der Poel wins sixth Cyclocross World Championships title

By Ben Goddard Published

Results Nieuwenhuis takes silver as Vanthourenhout saves Belgian pride with bronze medal

Results
Thumbs up for Zoe Backstedt at the under 23 cyclocross world championships
Zoe Backstedt dominates U23 women's race at Cyclocross World Championships

By Ben Goddard Published

Results Welsh rider beats Zemanova and Bentveld to add another world title to her incredible palmares

Results
Fem van Empel won the 2024 elite women's UCI cyclocross World Championships
Fem van Empel wins elite women's title at Cyclocross World Championships

By Ben Goddard Published

Results Defending champion distances Lucinda Brand and Puck Pieterse

Results
Tibor del Grosso wins the men's Under 23 cyclocross world title
Tibor del Grosso dominates U23 men's race at Cyclocross Worlds

By Ben Goddard Published

Results Dutch favourite avoids early crash and rides away from Belgian rivals Emiel Verstrynge and Jente Michels

Results
Wout van Aert in action
Wout van Aert fifth but out-paces Van der Poel in final laps of Hulst World Cup

By Ben Goddard Published

News Early crash and puncture put Belgian on the back foot in final race in Jumbo-Visma jersey

News
Mathieu van der Poel in action during the Hulst World Cup
Mathieu van der Poel 'done with' spectators booing, spitting at him

By Ben Goddard Published

News World Champion endures abuse even on home soil in Hulst

News
Belgian Wout van Aert pictured in action during the men's elite race of the World Cup in Gavere
Van Aert: Van der Poel 'smashed it and was on another level' in Gavere World Cup

By Ben Goddard Published

News Jumbo-Visma rider comes second, was the only rival to keep Van der Poel in sight after world champion attacked early

News
Tom Pidcock
Tom Pidcock rebounds in Gavere, making up 26 places to land on podium

By Ben Goddard Published

News Briton says, "It was a bit annoying" after early race mishaps in UCI Cyclocross World Cup

News
Wout van Aert racing at Antwerp World Cup
Wout Van Aert: I don't have the form yet to go full gas for the whole hour

By Ben Goddard Published

News 'I'm glad I didn't burn myself out and rode my own race' Jumbo-Visma rider finishes second to Mathieu van der Poel at Antwerp World Cup

News
Tom Pidcock crashed in the first few hundred metres of the Antwerp World Cup
Crash, illness hampers Tom Pidcock's performance at Antwerp World Cup

By Ben Goddard Published

News 'I didn't do any training all week, I'm tired' says Ineos Grenadiers rider

News
HOOGERHEIDE NETHERLANDS FEBRUARY 05 Wout Van Aert of Belgium competes during the 74th World Championships CycloCross 2023 Mens Elite CXWorldCup Hoogerheide2023 on February 05 2023 in Hoogerheide Netherlands Photo by David StockmanGetty Images
Wout van Aert: Expecting to be in second position, I forgot to ride my own sprint

By Ben Goddard Published

News Belgian expected his rival Van der Poel to lead over barriers on the final pass so was 'a bit confused' the Dutchman stayed in second position

News
HOOGERHEIDE NETHERLANDS FEBRUARY 05 Mathieu Van Der Poel of The Netherlands celebrates at podium as Gold medal during the 74th World Championships CycloCross 2023 Mens Elite CXWorldCup Hoogerheide2023 on February 05 2023 in Hoogerheide Netherlands Photo by David StockmanGetty Images
Cyclocross Worlds conquered, Mathieu van der Poel 'starts again from zero' at Strade Bianche

By Ben Goddard Published

News 'There is always respect between us,' says Dutchman about rivalry with Wout van Aert that will continue on the road

News
HOOGERHEIDE NETHERLANDS FEBRUARY 05 Zoe Backstedt of Great Britain competes during the 74th World Championships CycloCross 2023 Womens U23 CXWorldCup Hoogerheide2023 on February 05 2023 in Hoogerheide Netherlands Photo by David StockmanGetty Images
Zoe Bäckstedt heads to Opening Weekend after U23 Cyclocross Worlds silver

By Ben Goddard Published

News 'Since the start of the season I've progressed a lot' says 18-year-old

News
HOOGERHEIDE NETHERLANDS FEBRUARY 04 Gold medalist Fem van Empel of The Netherlands and bronze medalist Lucinda Brand of The Netherlands pose on the podium during the medal ceremony after the 74th World Championships CycloCross 2023 Womens Elite CXWorldCup Hoogerheide2023 on February 04 2023 in Hoogerheide Netherlands Photo by David StockmanGetty Images
Brand redirects bronze finish at Cyclocross Worlds to mastery of Paris-Roubaix Femmes

By Ben Goddard Published

News 'From the moment Puck made a little mistake I tried to go as fast as I could,' former World Champion said about battle for a medal

News
HOOGERHEIDE NETHERLANDS FEBRUARY 04 Puck Pieterse of The Netherlands crosses the finish line on second place during the 74th World Championships CycloCross 2023 Womens Elite CXWorldCup Hoogerheide2023 on February 04 2023 in Hoogerheide Netherlands Photo by David StockmanGetty Images
Puck Pieterse: It comes down to details and form on the day at Cyclocross Worlds

By Ben Goddard Published

News 'I think we're the same level at the moment' says rainbow jersey winner Fem van Empel

News
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