Joris Nieuwenhuis does not believe UCI is to change World Cup rules: "Then Van der Poel and Van Aert would never be allowed to ride in a World Championship"

Baloise - Trek Lions have won all three cyclocross World Cup rounds so far and sit first, third, fourth and fifth with different riders. Yet, they do not put much emphasis into winning it. Joris Nieuwenhuis does not believe the UCI will implement David Lappartient's recent suggestions as it will push away Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert.

Lappartient's words hinted that the UCI may pressure riders into racing all 14 World Cups, if not then they would not be allowed to race the World Championships. "Then Van der Poel and Van Aert would never be allowed to ride in a World Championship," Nieuwenhuis told In de Leiderstrui. Not only them but also Tom Pidcock. Notably, last season no female rider scored points on all 14 races whilst only 3 men did. The amount of riders who raced all World Cups without exception was very low after it's expansion from 9 to 14 events.

"It's a difficult story. I understand that they say it, but for us it is simply not feasible to ride so many crosses. I really don't think that decision will happen because then Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert would never be allowed to compete in a World Championship again," the Dutchman, winner of yesterday's Superprestige Merksplas, argued.

The UCI has since announced it has officially began reflection and talks on this topic. It is likely that they seek to implement changes to have riders participate in the World Cup more often. "As cross riders, we will really have to look together at how we can solve this problem, for example by coming up with a calendar proposal that is good for all parties," the 27-year old believes. "Then the sport remains possible for guys like us who start here, who want to ride everything."