Following a meeting of the UCI Governing Board in Zurich, Switzerland, prior to this weekend's UCI Cyclocross World Championships, the UCI announced long-anticipated reforms to the cyclocross World Cup.

In an attempt to shift the World Cup to a more international series, the UCI has limited the number of events held in Belgium, the historical center of cyclocross, to a maximum of half of the series' 14-16 races.

The Flanders Classic has taken over the World Cup organizing duties, with the series opening on October 4 in Waterloo, Wisconsin, and only temporarily visiting the United States. Iowa City, which had hosted the World Cup for the past two seasons, was omitted from the calendar.

"We are disappointed that Flanders Classics, the new owners of the UCI Cyclecross World Cup Series, have not chosen Jinglecross and Iowa City to host the 2020-2021 World Cup. In our early discussions with Flanders Classics, they shared our vision for the World Cup. Ultimately, they decided on only one World Cup this year and awarded that World Cup to our friends and colleagues at Trek in Waterloo."

"Jingle Cross is a three-day UCI C1 and C2 race on October 9-11, 2020, along with an all family The 17th annual event will be a fun event for the whole family. We wish the UCI and the Flanders Classic a successful World Cup season.

New rounds will be held in Dublin (Ireland), Besançon (France), Antwerp, Diegem, Oweisse, Wachtebeke, Sonnenhofen (Belgium), Furst (Netherlands), Villars (Switzerland), Waterloo, Tabor (Czech Republic), Koksai De, Namur, and Hogelheid will again host the event.

Zolder will continue to host races on Boxing Day, but will move to the Super Prestige Series with Gieten, Luderfelde, Neel, Boom, Gaberle, and Middelkerke. A new venue in Merkusplas will replace Diegem.

The UCI's plans have been heavily criticized, with some team managers saying that the junior and U23 categories, and general development, will be lost as riders will spend more time racing in national team kit.

"What do teams think about the fact that young riders wear national wear every Sunday instead of team wear? Telenet Baloise manager Sven Nys said in October. Teams will no longer want to invest in the development of young players."

However, the UCI limits the number of events in non-elite categories to seven, with Dublin, Tabor, Besançon, Namur, Diegem, Villars and Hogelheid hosting U23 men's and women's junior events.

In addition, the UCI will help national federations fund non-elite riders to participate in the series. In the past, organizers have offered financial incentives to juniors and U23 men, but the UCI has announced that starting next season, compensation will be extended to all youth categories.

The UCI also approved professional cyclocross teams as a separate entity "to promote the participation of cyclocross specialists and their teams in road events and to give more visibility to sponsors who invest in these teams. These specialist professional teams will be able to participate in road events starting in January 2021.

ME: men's elite, WE: women's elite, MU: men's under-23, MJ: men's junior, WJ: women's junior