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
![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](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nDdZ6UNzjWNgBEt4ayhqs3-320-80.jpg)
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
![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](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ccNVYiZxVTWp5LezL8TJ2N-320-80.jpg)
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
![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](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Q6iXHS8nKMoNv6ffJt8CE7-320-80.jpg)
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
![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](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rHCerFh9MHvu3E9aQF9a2D-320-80.jpg)
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
![HOOGERHEIDE NETHERLANDS FEBRUARY 04 Thibau Nys of Belgium celebrates at podium as Gold medal during the 74th World Championships CycloCross 2023 Mens U23 CXWorldCup Hoogerheide2023 on February 04 2023 in Hoogerheide Netherlands Photo by David StockmanGetty Images](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AB7UDocnZzYnp5NYebE5Zm-320-80.jpg)
Thibau Nys turns focus to road season after U23 Cyclocross Worlds triumph
By Ben Goddard published
News 'Will I be a one-week stage racer, a puncheur, sprinter, or Classics rider? I'm still unsure' says newly-crowned under-23 World Champion
![Fem van Empel was both European champion and World Cup winner in 2022-2023](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ckfQbaigYT9Awz3NWQvAtT-320-80.jpg)
Van Empel eyeing more than just Pieterse in Cyclocross World Championships
By Ben Goddard published
News Dutch rider expects more rivals in Hoogerheide than this season's main competitor
![Zoe Backstedt wins the elite women's race at the 2023 British Cyclocross Championships](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xmn988vXjsWmRT9PVi6iUY-320-80.jpg)
Zoe Backstedt wins elite British cyclocross title
By Ben Goddard published
Results EF-TIBCO-SVB rider solos in minutes ahead of Annie Last
![Cameron Mason wins the elite men's race at the 2023 British National Cyclocross Championships](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7oAvVu4ZPUjAKkCrzzaW9k-320-80.jpg)
Cameron Mason wins British cyclocross championships in Cumbria
By Ben Goddard published
Results Trinity rider tops defending champion Mein
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
'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
-
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
-
'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