Cyclo-cross stars still face potential penalties for skipping World Cup races: "I can’t wrap my head around it"

The World Cup in cyclo-cross continues to spark debate. In 2019, the schedule underwent significant changes, expanding to include more races but crammed into a shorter timeframe. While races used to start in September, riders now have to wait until mid-October. The packed schedule forces riders to make choices, a move that has ruffled feathers at the UCI.

Last year, UCI president Davide Lappartient threatened to exclude riders from the World Cup if they chose to compete in other races instead. Peter Van Den Abeele, the Sports Director at the UCI, is now softening that stance slightly. "We want to engage riders more in the UCI World Cup and encourage them to participate in the events," he told Belgian outlet Het Nieuwsblad. "That’s why, in partnership with Flanders Classics, we’ve reduced the number of races this year and shortened the competition period. The goal is to create a more compact World Cup."

To make choosing a World Cup race easier, other measures have also been implemented. "We have designated certain World Cup races as ‘protected races.’ Besançon on December 29, for example, is a protected race. This means that no other international cyclo-cross events can be scheduled the day before. In this way, we ensure that riders travel to Besançon and don’t skip it because they have a contract to ride another race the day before."

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Eli Iserbyt is a vocal opponent of the World Cup format

"We’re not trying to wipe out other races"

"Let me be clear: we’re not trying to wipe out other cyclo-cross races," Van Den Abeele emphasized. "But you have to understand — it’s disappointing to bring the World Cup to new regions and see low participation from top riders. That doesn’t help anyone, least of all the sport. Things are running smoothly in Belgium, and no one has issues there, but we need to strike the right balance between races in Belgium and elsewhere. Now, we’ve established a clear hierarchy between the different series."

Earlier this year, Eli Iserbyt spoke out strongly against the format of the World Cup. The Belgian champion argued that the other competitions will suffer from the UCI's policy. "In the end, we as riders have little to say in the matter. Last year they even wanted to suspend Thibau from the World Cup because he had skipped two World Cup races. That was a clear signal from the UCI: we just ride, they decide."

Although the UCI has softened its stance somewhat since Lappartient’s statements, the threat of penalties still looms over riders who make different choices. "If we see the trend of skipping World Cup races continue, we might have to impose stricter measures," Van Den Abeele warned. "But honestly, I don’t think it will come to that. I believe the current system is one that everyone can agree on. Still, I struggle to understand how a full-time cyclo-cross rider wouldn’t race in every event. I can't wrap my head around it."

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