UCI president David Lappartient strongly criticized the riders who are ignoring the World Cup. Bart Wellens proposes an alternative formula.
In recent years, the Cyclo-Cross World Cup has been expanded from eight heats to fourteen. There were also rounds in Dublin, Val di Sole and Benidorm, among others. There were also more heats in the US, although that fell to one this season.
Many riders find that too much and therefore cancel a few heats in order to get enough rest. But the UCI does not like that and chairman Lappartient also expressed criticism. He wants, among other things, to ban participation in the World Cup for riders who ignore the World Cup.
Fewer heats in Belgium
Bart Wellens believes that the only solution is to limit it again to eight to ten matches. And from September to February, not just during the Christmas period. “There is a cross every so often and then only that round of the World Cup can be organized that weekend,” he says. Cycling flash.
Although there would be a different consequence. “Then perhaps a number of Belgian organizers will drop out. That’s a shame, but at the moment there is sometimes too much in Belgium. I think this needs to be thought about.”
