UCI President David Lappartient has mooted the thought 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‘ resolution to not experience Sunday’s third spherical of the season in Dendermonde, regardless of collaborating 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 give attention to being more energizing for different competitions.
The choice to overlook Dendermonde provoked Lappartient to query Nys in an interview with DirectVelo.
“He has a foul consequence on the European Championships in Pontchâteau. He says he is drained however why experience on Saturday in Niel?” Lappartient requested. “Whenever you’re drained, you do not experience. That is why I perceive there are relaxation durations in a season.”
“I do not need to stigmatise him as a result of Thibau Nys is a rider that cyclocross wants. However he is not 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 boost the concept riders may very well be banned from competing within the season-ending UCI World Championships – this yr in Tabor in early February – in the event that they skip UCI World Cup races.
“If a rider prefers to experience a nationwide occasion throughout World Cup rounds, you will not experience the next World Cup rounds and due to this fact you will not experience the World Championships,” Lappartient mentioned. “The World Cup isn’t 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 mentioned 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 unique 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 affords 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 thought might see the game’s main stars Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, and Tom Pidcock race extra rounds, with the trio preferring decreased 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 yr.
“For the US journey, I can perceive it. Travelling for a race could be 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 affords a course worthy of the usual of the competitors, Dendermonde, Maasmechelen and Antwerp aren’t among the many most emblematic cyclocross occasions of the season.”
It stays to be seen what motion can be taken by the UCI relating to this perceived drawback, although any regulation to stop 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 needs to be free to make their very own selections about their schedule.
“I feel riders ought to have the suitable to make their very own selections, particularly in terms of younger riders,” he mentioned. “As a result of right here my son can be talked about. There are lots of different riders who make selections and skip a World Cup every so often.”
“I feel that needs to be allowed, however that is a dialogue now we have to have sooner or later to optimise the game. It is nothing for this yr anyway. However we’re going to have a look at it. All we’re asking for is session. That is largely a risk and making an attempt to boost your voice.”
“Rather a lot can be mentioned about it within the coming weeks. It is less than me to provide a counter-reaction straight away. We’re going to let it sink in and, above all, not let it put strain on us.”