Exciting Changes Ahead in the Cyclocross World Cup Calendar
The cycling world is abuzz with the announcement of the UCI Cyclocross World Cup calendar for the 2024-2025 season. Fans of the sport can expect some significant changes, including a later start to the season and a notable absence of events in the United States.
The New Calendar
The first round of the 2024-2025 World Cup is set to take place on November 24th, marking a much later start compared to previous years. This shift in the calendar will likely impact the training and preparation of top cyclocross riders as they adapt to the new schedule.
Another notable change is the lack of any rounds in the United States, which had been a staple of the early season since 2015 when the first World Cup was held in Las Vegas. The 2024-2025 calendar will instead feature new events in Dublin, Besançon, Benidorm, and a new round in Oristano, Sardinia, replacing the snowy event in Val di Sole.
These four new events have been granted ‘protected status’ by the UCI, meaning the governing body can refuse the registration of any race taking place on the day of or the day before the protected World Cup round. This move aims to ensure that the top riders focus their efforts on the prestigious World Cup series, rather than splitting their time between the World Cup and other lucrative events.
The Expanded Calendar
The expanded World Cup calendar, which grew from nine rounds to up to 15 in the 2021-2022 season, has faced criticism from some riders who felt the schedule was too demanding. The issue came to a head last November when UCI President David Lappartient threatened to exclude riders from the World Championships if they opted to skip World Cup rounds in favor of national events.
Despite the challenges, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and Eli Iserbyt managed to secure the overall titles in the 2023-2024 UCI Cyclocross World Cup, despite winning just three and two rounds, respectively. Alvarado competed in 12 of the 14 rounds, while Iserbyt was the only rider to compete in every event.
As the cycling community gears up for the exciting changes in the 2024-2025 Cyclocross World Cup, fans can expect a renewed focus on the top-tier competition and a reshuffling of the international cyclocross landscape.
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