October 17, 2008 – All the favourites will be on the start-line in Kalmthout, Belgium, on Sunday in the first race of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup presented by Safety Jogger.

Eyes will be on the reigning World Champion Lars Boom (the Netherlands) who, in winning his title in Treviso, Italy, in January 2008, was the first person in eight years to take the rainbow jersey from the Belgian riders. Also setting off in a strong position in Kalmthout, will be the Belgian Sven Nys, winner of four of the nine World Cup races last season. Other strong contenders include the Belgians Bart Wellens, Erwin Verwecken and the talented young Niels Albert.

Competition promises to be tight in the women’s race between the reigning World Champion Hanka Kupfernagel (Germany), last season’s UCI Rankings leader Daphny Van den Brand (the Netherlands) and the American rider Katie Compton.

In the Under-23 and Juniors categories, the competition is open. The World Under-23 Champion Niels Albert has moved into the Elite category this season.

This season sees the re-introduction of a separate World Cup ranking, which will join the UCI Ranking based on all the events on the world calendar. The leaders of the World Cup will wear a distinctive white leader’s jersey, and at the end of the season trophies will be awarded to the overall winners.

The overall World Cup ranking will be based on nine races for the Elite Men, eight for the Elite Women and four for the Under-23 riders and Juniors, who begin their World Cup season in Tabor, Czech Republic, on October 26.

A new feature of the calendar for the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup presented by Safety Jogger this year is the leg in Roubaix on January 18th 2009, with the start/finish in the mythical velodrome of the northern French town. Nommay, in France, returns to the World Cup circuit.

The full calendar is as follows:

– 19.10.2008 — Kalmthout, Belgium
– 26.10.2008 — Tabor, Czech Republic
– 9.11.2008 — Pijnacker, the Netherlands
– 29.11.2008 — Koksijde, Belgium
– 7.12.2008 — Igorre, Spain
– 21.12.2008 — Nommay, France
– 26.12.2008 — Hofstade, Belgium
– 18.01.2009 — Roubaix, France
– 25.01.2009 — Milan, Italy