UCI President David Lappartient has mooted the concept of stopping cyclocross riders who skip UCI World Cup races from collaborating within the World Championships.
The thought has been raised in response to U23 world champion Thibau Nys‘ determination to not journey Sunday’s third spherical of the season in Dendermonde, regardless of participating within the Superprestige race in Niel on Saturday.
Nys completed twenty seventh in Saturday’s race after not ending the European Championships final weekend. He mentioned later that he might put the World Cup “out of my thoughts” to deal with being brisker for different competitions.
The choice to overlook Dendermonde provoked Lappartient to query Nys in an interview with DirectVelo.
“He has a foul end result on the European Championships in Pontchâteau. He says he is drained however why journey on Saturday in Niel?” Lappartient requested. “If you’re drained, you do not journey. That is why I perceive there are relaxation intervals in a season.
“I do not need to stigmatise him as a result of Thibau Nys is a rider that cyclocross wants. However he isn’t the one one who skips the World Cup. If it does not work then there’s positively issues to enhance.”
Lappartient then went on to lift the concept riders could possibly be banned from competing within the season-ending UCI World Championships – this 12 months in Tabor in early February – in the event that they skip UCI World Cup races.
“If a rider prefers to journey a nationwide occasion throughout World Cup rounds, you will not journey the next World Cup rounds and subsequently you will not journey the World Championships,” Lappartient mentioned. “The World Cup will not be a contest in which you’ll decide and select as you please. Each rider has to play the sport.”
The Frenchman’s phrases echo UCI sports activities director Peter Van den Abeele, who instructed Sporza earlier within the week that, ” Lars van der Haar saidn after his victory in Maasmechelen that he’s dropping the World Cup rankings. Thibau Nys prefers the Superprestige in Niel over the World Cup in Dendermonde.
“I respect riders who say they select to take a relaxation. However penalizing the World Cup for a distinct rating? If the World Cup is seen as a toy, then now we have an issue.”
He went on to notice that the World Cup provides extra prize cash than different competitions together with the Superprestige and X2O Trofee, whereas additionally elevating concepts together with providing extra UCI factors for World Cup races or condensing the sequence right into a shorter time interval.
The latter concept may see the game’s main stars Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, and Tom Pidcock race extra rounds, with the trio preferring lowered cyclocross schedules.
Lappartient, in the meantime, understood that some rounds of the World Cup are logistically unattractive for riders, noting the opening spherical in Waterloo, USA stands alone with no race in Fayetteville on the calendar this 12 months.
“For the US journey I can perceive it. Travelling for a race generally is a handicap,” he mentioned. “We have to create a sequence with Canada. With Val di Sole, we have to be sure that there’s one other cyclocross race within the space.
“To not point out the issue of the attractiveness of the Belgian rounds of the World Cup. Whereas Namur provides a course worthy of the usual of the competitors, Dendermonde, Maasmechelen and Antwerp usually are not among the many most emblematic cyclocross occasions of the season.”
It stays to be seen what motion shall be taken by the UCI concerning this perceived drawback, although any regulation to forestall riders skipping World Cup races from beginning the World Championships would not come into play till subsequent season, in any case.
On Sunday morning, the daddy of Thibau and Baloise Trek Lions supervisor, Sven Nys, instructed WielerFlits that he thinks riders ought to be free to make their very own selections about their schedule.
“I believe riders ought to have the proper to make their very own selections, particularly with regards to younger riders,” he mentioned. “As a result of right here my son can be talked about. There are numerous different riders who make selections and skip a World Cup now and again.”
“I believe that ought to be allowed, however that is a dialogue now we have to have in some unspecified time in the future to optimise the game. It is nothing for this 12 months anyway. However we’re going to take a look at it. All we’re asking for is session. That is largely a risk and making an attempt to lift your voice.
“Rather a lot shall be mentioned about it within the coming weeks. It is lower than me to present a counter-reaction instantly. We’re going to let it sink in and, above all, not let it put strain on us.”
