"A mountain bike race with Pidcock or Van der Poel is of a different caliber than a mountain bike race without those two" - UCI director clarifies

At the International Cycling Union UCI they are surprised about the commotion around the starting places at the World Championships mountain biking.

"There is a rule for the World Cup races. It states that certain riders with a high ranking in another UCI ranking get a privileged position," explains Peter Van Den Abeele. "That rule also exists in the Cyclo-cross World Cup. They are the only disciplines where the starting order is determined by the UCI ranking."

"We extended that rule for mountain biking. We moved it from the World Cup to the World Championship." The new rule - or extension of the rule - plays into the hands of Olympic champion Tom Pidcock and newly crowned world road champion Mathieu van der Poel who have not ridden enough mountain bike races this season to secure a better starting spot.

"I wouldn't call it favoritism. It's about the added value of the sport," says Peter Van den Abeele. "A mountain bike race with Pidcock or Van der Poel is of a different caliber than a mountain bike race without those two. Imagine: Nino Schurter conquers the rainbow jersey this time in the presence of Tom Pidcock and Mathieu van der Poel. Isn't that important to him?"