Former world champion Bart Wellens has criticized the International Cycling Union (UCI) in Het Nieuwsblad, arguing that the governing body adjusted the cyclo-cross calendar too heavily to accommodate Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert.

The Compressed World Cup Calendar

Wellens highlighted the timing of the UCI World Cup, noting that the competition starts in late November and concludes the week before the world championship. This schedule packs 12 World Cup races into roughly two months, creating a dense program for riders targeting the overall standings. Competitors must carefully weigh their physical condition, recovery periods, and decisions to enter other cross events during the winter season. Het is wel jammer dat de UCI zijn kalender heeft aangepast in functie van hen, stelt Wellens.

Team Rankings and the WorldTour Battle

Beyond individual schedules, Wellens pointed out that World Cup results now count toward team rankings, making the competition the most important standings series in the discipline. Dat de punten van de Wereldbeker voortaan ook meetellen voor de ranking van de ploegen, maakt van de WB met voorsprong het belangrijkste klassement, says Wellens. Wellens suggested that teams fighting for WorldTour status, such as Lotto-Intermarché utilizing riders like Toon Aerts, will likely place greater strategic importance on cyclo-cross points. Ik kan mij inbeelden dat ploegen die strijden om een plaats in de WorldTour plots meer belang gaan hechten aan het veldrijden, he noted.

Star Riders and Roster Uncertainties

Paul Herygers noted that Wout van Aert is expected to start his winter campaign without excessive delay following a strong road season, while Mathieu van der Poel remains a major question mark. Van der Poel indicated after the world championships that a cyclo-cross return this winter might not happen, with an expected arrival of a child in January likely influencing his final schedule. Other riders face difficult planning challenges while waiting to see whether the top stars will line up at the start gates. Paul Herygers remarked on the scheduling uncertainty, stating that Van der Poel stuurt ons wandelen met een vraagteken zo groot als een vrachtwagen and adding, Van Aert is de grote man en zal de cross redden.