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
![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](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zWEivDrQfkU2VxDrxwP553-320-80.jpg)
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
![Van der Poel and Van Empel are the defending world champions from Tabor last year](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rT2xJhW2PiNP95YgFAzHD5-320-80.png)
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
![Belgian Michael Vanthourenhout of Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel Clementines celebrates at podium as 2024-2025 World Cup overall winner after second place in Hoogerheide](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3aRdE7ixqtGDByvczfnZmm-320-80.jpg)
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
![Fem van Empel (Visma-Lease a Bike) competes at the World Cup in Maasmechelen, finishing sixth](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XnQ8eASmBcMVqjqqAob39h-320-80.jpg)
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
![Wout van Aert earns second place at Saturday's UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Maasmechelen](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RTNJGWGFNKeXMe4iNH5Rmi-320-80.jpg)
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'
![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](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/umykyk7RyuLEe33SVCnVpX-320-80.jpg)
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
![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)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4oqmvXArxLzcSFb4TiU65c-320-80.jpg)
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
![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)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ASAavJdFPnD35tfvhbSnfJ-320-80.jpg)
'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
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Latest on Cyclingnews
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'It's a cyclocross race with a bit of road in the middle' - Zoe Bäckstedt to go all-in at Paris-Roubaix
British rider captures two rainbow jerseys at UCI Cyclo-cross Worlds in Liévin -
'A dream' - Thibau Nys bounces back from illness with third place at Cyclo-cross Worlds behind Van der Poel and Van Aert
'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 -
Wout van Aert reunited with lost Garmin after Cyclo-cross World Championships
'It was definitely my best cyclocross race of the winter' says former world champion pleased with silver-medal performance
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Cyclo-cross World Championships: Mathieu van der Poel dominates to secure seventh elite men's title
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 -
Cyclo-cross World Championships: Zoe Bäckstedt lives up to the billing and defends women's U23 title
Marie Schreiber takes second for Luxembourg, with the Netherlands' Leonie Bentveld third in Liévin -
Tibor Del Grosso aims to 'get to the top' in road and cyclocross with WorldTour step-up approaching
Young Dutch star to open first senior road campaign at Paris-Nice in 2025
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'Hungry for more' - Puck Pieterse ends cyclocross season with Worlds bronze, turns attention to Spring Classics
'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 -
'Mixed feelings' for Lucinda Brand at Cyclo-cross Worlds after missing out on rainbow jersey in last lap
Brand says squeeze to the fences by Van Empel 'wasn't necessary' but admits that 'the difference was made already' -
Cyclo-cross World Championships: Three-in-a-row for Fem van Empel after hard-fought victory against Lucinda Brand in elite women's race
1-2-3 for the Netherlands as Puck Pieterse secures the bronze medal in Liévin