Thanks to an investigation by mtb-news.de, who took Albstadt's absence from the UCI 2023 World Cup calendar to heart, we have some responses also regarding Valkenburg's absence from the calendar. Or rather: he tried to ask the right questions to the UCI but didn't get the desired answers.
Albstadt was simply not taken into consideration despite the application presented, but Valkenburg, as a newcomer, was initially approved by the UCI. Taking Albstadt's place in terms of data. ESO, the body appointed by the UCI to organize the MTB World Cup, has never spoken of Valkenburg as a 'substitute for Albstadt', even if in the light of the facts this seems clear.
The UCI therefore did not give a precise reason for the absence of Valkenburg and Albstadt, despite the clear questions from mtb-news. Surely in Albstadt they hoped for some approval after the candidacy, given the historical site and the experience behind it. But what were the reasons for leaving Albstadt? Nobody has the answer. Regarding Valkenburg, famous venue in cycling thanks to cyclocross and the Amstel Gold Race, again no information but the certainty that it will return in 2024.
WORLD CUP MTB CALENDAR 2023
