The cyclo-cross season is slowly approaching its conclusion and then the discussion about the calendar inevitably flares up again. Many observers argue for a more compact World Cup calendar and UCI CEO Peter Van den Abeele also agrees.
Van den Abeele, Sports Director at UCI, also realizes that it is all a bit too much of a good thing. "Perhaps fewer cyclo-cross races are needed. And perhaps also fewer World Cup cyclo-cross races," Van den Abeele told Sporza in Koksijde.
"These are negotiations that we must of course initially conduct with Flanders Classics. They are the rights holder," Van den Abeele explains. Commercial considerations also play a role. "That makes sense," he echoes. "Flanders Classics has signed up for 14 to 16 rounds."
The UCI and Flanders Classics must therefore reach an agreement. But what is the UCI's wish? "I could also live with 14. But with 10 or 12 World Cup crosses in a season it might be even more attractive," says Van den Abeele. "A much more compact World Cup from December to the week before the World Cup seems logical to me. Anyway, if you see how many people come to Koksijde on a Thursday, then the public interest is there."
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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Sporza spoke with 🇧🇪 Peter Van den Abeele (UCI) about the World Cup cyclocross for next year. "10 to 12 World Cups in a season would probably be more attractive. A more compact World Cup from December until the week before Worlds seems logical to me." sporza.be/nl/2024/01/04/…
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