Benjamin Karl: Snowboard Star to Cyclocross – Olympic Ambitions in Cycling

Vienna, Austria – In a stunning career pivot, two-time Olympic snowboard champion Benjamin Karl of Austria is trading his board for a bicycle, announcing his intention to pursue a professional cycling career with an eye toward the 2030 Winter Olympics. The 40-year-old Niederösterreich native revealed his plans on Tuesday, marking a dramatic shift for one of Austria’s most decorated winter athletes.

Karl’s announcement comes just days after a victory in parallel giant slalom at a competition in Quebec, Canada, where he remained tight-lipped about his future. “Starting March 23rd, I will be focusing on my career in cycling,” Karl stated to ORF, Austria’s national broadcaster. “And if the opportunity arises, I will try my luck in Cyclocross and attempt to compete at the Olympic Games in four years.”

The move represents the finish of an illustrious snowboarding career that included Olympic gold medals in 2022 and 2026 (parallel giant slalom), a silver medal in 2010 (parallel giant slalom), and a bronze in 2014 (parallel slalom). He also boasts five World Championship titles, 23 World Cup victories, and three overall World Cup titles.

Karl’s ambition centers on Cyclocross, a winter cycling discipline formerly known as Querfeldein, which will make its Olympic debut at the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps. The sport combines road cycling with off-road sections, demanding both endurance and technical skill – a challenge Karl readily embraces.

“I feel like a 16-year-old when I think about the challenge, and I’m already looking forward to it so much,” Karl said. He is currently exploring team options, with TudorCycling, featuring fellow Austrian Marco Haller, as his “Plan A.” A Continental-level team from Upper Austria represents his “Plan B,” though he declined to name the specific team, stating they have expressed strong interest in signing him.

The transition won’t be without its hurdles. Karl acknowledges the need for extensive training and infrastructure to compete at the professional level, regardless of whether he focuses on road cycling or Cyclocross. “I need a lot of infrastructure and training for races now, whether it’s on the road or in Cyclocross doesn’t matter for now. I just need a path for the next four years. My goal is clearly Cyclocross at the 2030 Olympics… maybe before that one of the Monuments of cycling, a stage race, we’ll see. I will love the path,” he explained.

The decision to switch sports is the culmination of a long process, Karl indicated. He began contemplating his future beyond snowboarding even before his recent Olympic successes. “The process actually started much earlier, actually before 2022,” Karl said. He initially questioned what further goals he could set for himself, leading to the decision to pursue one final Olympic campaign.

While the move signals the end of his snowboarding career, Karl is approaching his new challenge with characteristic enthusiasm. “Both cannot be done,” he stated definitively when asked if he would continue to compete in snowboarding. “If I get the chance, I will seize it and only be on the bike in the next few years.”

The Austrian athlete’s transition is a testament to his competitive spirit and willingness to embrace new challenges. His success on the snowboard has established him as a national hero, and now, he aims to replicate that success on two wheels, adding another chapter to his remarkable sporting story. The cycling world will be watching closely to see if this seasoned Olympian can conquer a new discipline and reach the pinnacle of another sport.