UCI Cyclocross World Cup planned for Montreal cancelled, UCI and Cycling Canada announce

In a blow to Canadian cyclocross fans, the Union Cycliste Internationale and Cycling Canada announced today the cancellation of September’s UCI Cyclocross World Cup scheduled for Montreal, citing the failure to secure much-needed resources.

“Despite final efforts to secure the significant government funding necessary to host a high-level World Cup event,” the UCI said in a statement this morning, “this has not been received in time to comfortably proceed. With teams and suppliers needing to plan ahead, it was felt that the decision not to proceed had to be made at this time.”

The round was to be the first UCI Cyclocross World Cup hosted on Canadian soil, preceded by the opening of the 2015-2016 season in Las Vegas. Two hundred of the world’s top riders were anticipated to attend, with the prospect of names like Maghalie Rochette, Catharine Prendel, and Geoff Kabush slated to compete, racing in front of a home crowd. Its exact location hadn’t been confirmed at the time of its announcement, but the plan, officials said, was to have it emulate the European approach as closely as possible.

“In Europe, cyclocross events celebrate cycling for all, and that’s what we’re aiming for in Montreal,” said Patrice Drouin, the president of Gestev, producer of the Montreal World Cup.

Although disappointing to teams, athletes and fans, the world cycling body hasn’t ruled out giving it another shot later on down the road. Nothing on that front, however, has been set in stone. “It is the plan and desire of both the UCI and Cycling Canada to hold the event in the future,” the UCI’s statement continued. “The intention is to secure the necessary financial support prior to accepting the event on the calendar, and then deliver a top-level competition in Canada.”

“We regret any inconvenience this decision has caused for the teams and athletes who were looking forward to participating in the Montreal World Cup.”