The UCI protects the CX World Cup with its new regulations and threatens to take more severe measures

Some of the top stars of the cyclocross world have been preferring, for years, to skip some rounds of the CX World Cup to participate in national races that often paid them significant sums of money just to be on the start line. This is something that the UCI is now addressing with a new regulation in the race calendar and threats towards riders who decide to skip the World Cup.

UCI continues to implement measures to protect the CX World Cup

Just a few months ago, it was UCI President David Lappartient himself who proposed that "if a CX rider prefers to compete in a national race instead of a World Cup, they will not be able to compete in the next World Cup, and therefore, not in the Cyclocross World Championship."

For the 2024-25 season, the UCI has intervened in the regulations to prevent important races from taking place days before some events on the World Cup calendar that have now been designated as protected (Dublin, Sardinia, Besançon, and Benidorm), leaving riders with the only option of participating in the World Cup or not competing at all. Additionally, they have adjusted the period and number of races in their competition.

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This was explained by Peter van den Abeele, UCI Sports Director: "We want to involve more riders in the UCI World Cup and encourage them to participate in the races. That's why we have chosen ... to organize fewer races this year and shorten the period in which the races take place. To create a more compact World Cup"

He also warned that even stricter measures could be implemented for riders: "If we see that the trend continues and the rule is being played with, we could play even harder and take more severe measures." Referring to what Lappartient proposed to condition participation in the World Cup for all riders who want to compete in the World Championship.

For now, the UCI CX World Cup will start this weekend in Antwerp without Van Aert, Van der Poel, or Tom Pidcock having announced their participation in any cyclocross race so far, but surely the UCI will be as attentive to their schedules as the rest of the fans are.