We talked about it in this article: Mathieu Van der Poel, Peter Sagan and Tom Pidcock will start from the 4th grid (and not from the 13th and last row).
Tomorrow is the World Cup. And it's great to have outstanding athletes from different disciplines at the start and I can't wait to compete against them. But me and all 40 members of the MTB athletes association are not very happy with how the UCI is treating our discipline by changing the rules on the starting position one day before the race - Nino Schurter
The question at this moment is not whether the applied rule is just, unjust or adequate – that is a topic for another day. The concern is the way and timing that the UCI has implemented and enforced this rule. And the ensuing consequences for individual riders and teams with Olympic-rated positions that could be affected. Right now it's not just about competing in the world championships, but also fighting for a place in the Olympics.
It is clear that the UCI contradicted itself in applying the rule. Hours before the start of the world championships it is not time to selectively search for rules and we express our deep disappointment and frustration with this situation caused by the UCI – Nino Schurter
