USA Cycling Publishes 2025 Cyclocross World Championships Selection Criteria
USA Cycling published its selection criteria for this season’s Cyclocross World Championships in Lievin, France, January 31-February 2. Having the criteria posted before the season begins allows athletes to structure their calendar in a way that gives them the best opportunity to meet the criteria and be selected for the World Championships squad.
Here is the selection criteria document in its entirety. I have added footnotes to certain selection criteria containing the language for last year’s criteria so that you can compare. A significant difference in this year’s version is that an athlete ranked in the top 50 of the UCI athlete standings will be nominated to the team if spots are available. This criteria is obtainable by many US athletes and should help ensure the roster is filled with racers who meet the objective criteria rather than earning spots through the discretionary selection process. Here is a link to the original and below it the entirety of the text. All footnotes are mine and not part of the 2025 selection criteria.
Comments are open to everyone. Let me know what else you think should be highlighted or what questions are out there. You know how we love talking selection criteria at the Bulletin.
USA Cycling Athlete Selection Criteria—2025 UCI Cyclocross World Championships—January 31–February 02, 2025—Lievin, France
SELECTION AND QUALIFICATION INFORMATION
Below you will find information on how an athlete can qualify for nomination to the 2025 UCI Cyclocross World Championship Team (“Team”). In cases where there are available start positions after the automatic qualification process, any available positions may be filled via discretionary nominations according to the USA Cycling Discretionary Selection Procedures: https://usacycling.org/team-usa/protected-event-selection
There are extensive Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) requirements for entry into the World Championships at the nation, event and individual levels. Those requirements can be found on the UCI website under rules and regulations – World Championships: https://www.uci.org/inside-uci/constitutions-regulations/regulations
ELIGIBILITY
Elite Men and Women – Aged 19 and over as of December 31, 2025 (born on or after January 1, 2006)
U23 Men and Women – Aged 19-22 as of December 31, 2025 (born in 2002 through 2006)
Junior Men and Women – Aged 17-18 as of December 31, 2025 (born in 2007 through 2008)
All nominees must have a valid UCI International Racing License and meet all eligibility requirements of USA Cycling and the UCI. • All nominees must be in good standing with USA Cycling, UCI, U.S. Center for SafeSport and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
• All Elite M/W nominees must have finished a minimum of two World Cups in the top 50% of all finishers in 2024-2025 World Cup events between November 24, 2024, and December 29, 2024.
• All U23 M/W and Junior M/W nominees must have finished a minimum of two World Cups in the top 75% of all finishers in 2024-2025 World Cup events between November 24, 2024, and December 29, 2024.
HIGH PERFORMANCE PLAN GOALS
Select athletes who have demonstrated an ability to be competitive (e.g., finished within the top 15 on multiple occasions) in 2024-2025 World Cup competitions in their respective categories. Also, consideration will be given to athletes who have demonstrated a positive performance trend in cyclocross World Cup Competitions while finishing in the top half of their respective World Cup finishers during the 2024-2025 cyclocross season1.
USA Cycling may choose not to fill all start positions.
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Level 1: Funded
USA Cycling will provide one economy class, single destination airfare, which includes up to 3 pieces of luggage: Up to two bikes or one bike and one wheel case, plus one suitcase each under 50lbs (excess weight or additional bag charges are the responsibility of the athlete). USA Cycling will also provide competition and casual clothing, lodging/food, ground transportation at event location, all mechanical/race support, and travel insurance throughout the duration of the event with USA Cycling.
Level 2: Partially-Funded
Athletes will be responsible for paying a service fee of $1500.00, payable on or before the date outlined in this document (“Fee”). This Fee includes competition and casual clothing, lodging/food, ground transportation at event location, all mechanical/race support, and travel insurance throughout the duration of the event with USA Cycling. Athletes are responsible for their airfare and baggage expenses2.
COMPETITION AND CASUAL CLOTHING
As a member of the USA Cycling World Championship Team, representing USA Cycling and the United States of America, athletes will be provided with competition clothing which they will be required to wear during all training sessions and competitions. Additionally, athletes will be provided with casual clothing that they will be required to wear at official Team functions and while participating as a member of the Team. Failure to comply with Team clothing rules can lead to disciplinary actions, including removal from the Team.
IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES
Qualification Period: August 1, 2024 - December 29, 2024
Deadline for Submission of Discretionary Petitions: December 23, 2024
Team Selection: January 3, 2025
Final Announcement of the Team: January 6, 2025
Confirmation of Intent to Participate: January 10, 2025
CRITERIA FOR NOMINATION TO THE TEAM
ELITE MEN AND WOMEN
Maximum quota positions: Up to 7 each
Level 1: Funded
1. Any athlete placing in the top three (3) at the prior year’s World Championships in the same event and category will be nominated to the Team.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than available quota positions, athletes will be nominated in the order of their placing, starting with highest placing first, the second highest placing second, and so on3.
2. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criterion, any athlete placing in the top ten (10) at a UCI Elite World Cup event between November 24, 2024, and December 29, 2024, will be nominated to the Team4.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than remaining quota positions, athletes will be nominated in order of their highest placing(s) in a World Cup event during the qualification period.
b. If two or more athletes have achieved the same highest placing, the athlete(s) with the highest UCI Elite Cyclocross World Cup Standings as of December 31, 2024, will be nominated first, the athlete with the second highest placing will be nominated second and so on until all quota positions are filled.
3. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, any athlete ranked in the top fifteen (15) in the 2024-2025 UCI Elite Individual Cyclocross World Cup Standings as of December 31, 2024, will be nominated to the Team5.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than available quota positions, the athlete(s) with the highest ranking will be nominated first, the second highest will be nominated second, and so on.
Level 2: Partially-Funded
4. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, any athlete ranked in the top twenty five (25) in the 2024 UCI Elite Individual Cyclocross World Cup Standings as of December 31, 2024, will be nominated to the Team.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than available quota positions, the athlete(s) with the highest ranking will be nominated first, the second highest will be nominated second, and so on.
5. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, any athlete ranked in the top fifty (50) in the 2024 UCI Elite Cyclocross Individual rankings as of December 31, 2024, will be nominated to the Team6.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than available quota positions, the athlete(s) with the highest ranking will be nominated first, the second highest will be nominated second, and so on.
6. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, the winner of the 2024 USA Cycling Elite Cyclocross National Championship, provided the race is held in its entirety and run under UCI regulations, will be nominated to the Team7.
7. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, athletes may be nominated to the Team in accordance with USA Cycling’s Discretionary Selection Procedures.
U23 MEN
Maximum quota positions: Up to 7
Level 1: Funded
1. Any athlete placing in the top three (3) at the prior year’s World Championships in the same event and category will be nominated to the Team.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than available quota positions, athletes will be nominated in the order of their placing, starting with highest placing first, the second highest placing second, and so on.
2. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criterion, any athlete placing in the top ten (10) at a UCI Elite or U23 World Cup event between November 24, 2024, and December 29, 2024, will be nominated to the Team8.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than remaining quota positions, athletes will be nominated in order of their highest placing(s) in a World Cup event during the qualification period.
b. If two or more athletes have achieved the same highest placing, the athlete(s) with the highest UCI Elite Cyclocross World Cup Standings as of December 31, 2024, will be nominated first, the athlete with the second highest ranking will be nominated second and so on until all quota positions are filled.
3. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, any athlete ranked in the top fifteen (15) in the 2024-2025 UCI U23 Individual Cyclocross World Cup Standings as of December 31, 2024, will be nominated to the Team9.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than available quota positions, the athlete(s) with the highest ranking will be nominated first, the second highest will be nominated second, and so on.
Level 2: Partially Funded
4. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, any athlete ranked in the top twenty five (25) in the 2024 UCI U23 Individual Cyclocross World Cup Standings as of December 31, 2024, will be nominated to the Team10.
c. If more athletes meet this criterion than available quota positions, the athlete(s) with the highest ranking will be nominated first, the second highest will be nominated second, and so on.
5. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, any athlete ranked in the top fifty (50) in the 2024 UCI Elite Cyclocross Individual rankings as of December 31, 2024, will be nominated to the Team11.
d. If more athletes meet this criterion than available quota positions, the athlete(s) with the highest ranking will be nominated first, the second highest will be nominated second, and so on.
6. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, the winner of the 2024 USA Cycling U23 Cyclocross National Championship, provided the race is held in its entirety and run under UCI regulations, will be nominated to the Team.
7. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, athletes may be nominated to the Team in accordance with USA Cycling’s Discretionary Selection Procedures.
U23 WOMEN
Maximum quota positions: Up to 7
Level 1: Funded
1. Any athlete placing in the top three (3) at the prior year’s World Championships in the same event and category will be nominated to the Team.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than available quota positions, athletes will be nominated in the order of their placing, starting with highest placing first, the second highest placing second, and so on.
2. If quota positions remain after considering the previous criterion, any athlete placing in the top ten (10) at a UCI Elite or U23 World Cup event between November 24, 2024, and December 29, 2024, will be nominated to the Team12.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than remaining quota positions, athletes will be nominated in order of their highest placing(s) in a World Cup event during the qualification period.
b. If two or more athletes have achieved the same highest placing, the athlete(s) with the highest UCI Elite Cyclocross World Cup Standings as of December 31, 2024, will be nominated first, the athlete with the second highest placing will be nominated second and so on until all quota positions are filled.
3. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, any athlete ranked in the top fifteen (15) in the 2024-2025 UCI U23 Individual Cyclocross World Cup Standings as of December 31, 2024, will be nominated to the Team13.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than available quota positions, the athlete(s) with the highest ranking will be nominated first, the second highest will be nominated second, and so on.
Level 2: Partially Funded
4. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, any athlete ranked in the top twenty five (25) in the 2024 UCI U23 Individual Cyclocross World Cup Standings as of December 31, 2024, will be nominated to the Team.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than available quota positions, the athlete(s) with the highest ranking will be nominated first, the second highest will be nominated second, and so on.
5. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, any athlete ranked in the top fifty (50) in the 2024 UCI Elite Cyclocross Individual rankings as of December 31, 2024, will be nominated to the Team14.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than available quota positions, the athlete(s) with the highest ranking will be nominated first, the second highest will be nominated second, and so on.
6. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, the winner of the 2024 USA Cycling U23 Cyclocross National Championship, provided the race is held in its entirety and run under UCI regulations, will be nominated to the Team.
7. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, athletes may be nominated to the Team in accordance with USA Cycling’s Discretionary Selection Procedures.
JUNIOR MEN
Maximum quota positions: Up to 7
Level 1: Funded
1. Any athlete placing in the top three (3) at the prior year’s World Championships in the same event and category will be nominated to the Team.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than available quota positions, athletes will be nominated in the order of their placing, starting with highest placing first, the second highest placing second, and so on.
2. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criterion, any athlete placing in the top ten (10) at a UCI Junior World Cup event between November 24, 2024, and December 29, 2024, will be nominated to the Team15.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than remaining quota positions, athletes will be nominated in order of their highest placing(s) in a World Cup event during the qualification period.
b. If two or more athletes have achieved the same highest placing, the athlete(s) with the highest UCI Junior Cyclocross World Cup Standings as of December 31, 2024, will be nominated first, the athlete with the second highest placing will be nominated second and so on until all quota positions are filled.
3. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, any athlete ranked in the top fifteen (15) in the 2024-2025 UCI Junior Individual Cyclocross World Cup Standings as of December 31, 2024, will be nominated to the Team16.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than available quota positions, the athlete(s) with the highest ranking will be nominated first, the second highest will be nominated second, and so on.
Level 2: Partially-Funded
4. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, any athlete ranked in the top twenty five (25) in the 2024 UCI Junior Individual Cyclocross World Cup Standings as of December 31, 2024, will be nominated to the Team17.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than available quota positions, the athlete(s) with the highest ranking will be nominated first, the second highest will be nominated second, and so on.
5. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, any athlete ranked in the top fifty (50) in the 2024 UCI Junior Cyclocross Individual rankings as of December 31, 2024, will be nominated to the Team18.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than available quota positions, the athlete(s) with the highest ranking will be nominated first, the second highest will be nominated second, and so on.
6. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, the winner of the 2024 USA Cycling Junior Cyclocross National Championship, provided the race is held in its entirety and run under UCI regulations, will be nominated to the Team.
7. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, athletes may be nominated to the Team in accordance with USA Cycling’s Discretionary Selection Procedures.
JUNIOR WOMEN
Maximum quota positions: Up to 7
Level 1: Funded
1. Any athlete placing in the top three (3) at the prior year’s World Championships in the same event and category will be nominated to the Team.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than available quota positions, athletes will be nominated in the order of their placing, starting with highest placing first, the second highest placing second, and so on.
2. If quota positions remain after considering the previous criterion, any athlete placing in the top ten (10) at a UCI Junior World Cup event between November 24, 2024, and December 29, 2024, will be nominated to the Team19.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than remaining quota positions, athletes will be nominated in order of their highest placing(s) in a World Cup event during the qualification period.
b. If two or more athletes have achieved the same highest placing, the athlete(s) with the highest UCI Junior Cyclocross World Cup Standings as of December 31, 2024, will be nominated first, the athlete with the second highest placing will be nominated second and so on until all quota positions are filled.
3. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, any athlete ranked in the top fifteen (15) in the 2024-2025 UCI Junior Individual Cyclocross World Cup Standings as of December 31, 2024, will be nominated to the Team20.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than available quota positions, the athlete(s) with the highest ranking will be nominated first, the second highest will be nominated second, and so on.
Level 2: Partially-Funded
4. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, any athlete ranked in the top twenty five (25) in the 2024 UCI Junior Individual Cyclocross World Cup Standings as of December 31, 2024, will be nominated to the Team.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than available quota positions, the athlete(s) with the highest ranking will be nominated first, the second highest will be nominated second, and so on.
5. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, any athlete ranked in the top fifty (50) in the 2024 UCI Junior Cyclocross Individual rankings as of December 31, 2024, will be nominated to the Team21.
a. If more athletes meet this criterion than available quota positions, the athlete(s) with the highest ranking will be nominated first, the second highest will be nominated second, and so on.
6. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, the winner of the 2024 USA Cycling Junior Cyclocross National Championship, provided the race is held in its entirety and run under UCI regulations, will be nominated to the Team22.
7. If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, athletes may be nominated to the Team in accordance with USA Cycling’s Discretionary Selection Procedures.
The 2024 language is: Provide athletes who have demonstrated a positive performance trend in cyclocross Top-Level Competitions during the 2023-2024 cyclocross season with the opportunity to gain experience competing in a World Championships.
Notable is the removal of the “gain experience competing in a World Championships” language in the 2025 High Performance Plan Goals.
The athlete service fee increased from $1000 for 2024 to $1500 for 2025.
This criteria is unchanged compared to last season.
This criteria changed from a top three in a World Cup being a nomination to a more attainable top 10. The eligibility period runs from the first World Cup November 24 in Antwerp to Besançon, December 29. The final four World Cups are not included in this selection criteria as the team selection will be made January 3, 2025.
This criteria is new to the “Funded” tier and is more easily attainable than the second criteria under last year’s “Partially-Funded” tier, which read “If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, any athlete placing in the top five (5) at a UCI Elite World Cup event between October 28, 2023, and January 1, 2024, will be nominated to the Team.
In other words, top 15 in a World Cup this year gets you nominated to the team and fully funded. Last year it didn’t get you nominated.
Under last year’s criteria, an athlete had to be in the top 10 in the World Cup standings to be nominated: “If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, any athlete ranked in the top ten (10) in the 2024 UCI Elite Individual Cyclocross World Cup Standings as of January 1, 2024, will be nominated to the Team.”
This year, the criteria is top 50, which is a challenging but attainable goal for USA Cycling athletes.
This criteria was worded similarly last year. The point I wanted to highlight is that winning a national championship is not an automatic nomination. It is only a nomination if there are slots available after the above criteria have been filled. If your national champ doesn’t meet the higher criteria and others do, they may not make the squad.
last year’s rule required U23 men to place in the top 3 at a U23 World Cup. This year it is a top 10.
Similar to the elite categories, this is a new level for fully funded.
Last year’s rule required a top 10 in the World Cup standings, this year it’s top 25.
This changes from top 30 in overall ranking (not just world cup) in last year’s criteria to top 50 this year.
Similar to U23 men, this changes from top 3 to top 10. A delineation has also been made for this result to happen in either a U23 or Elite race. In last year’s criteria there was an additional partially funded level for an athlete who placed top five in a U23 World Cup.
Another new fully funded level. And the comparative partially funded from last year was top 10.
This is bumped up from top 30 last year.
This is bumped up from top three last year.
New fully funded criteria. Same as above.
This is bumped up from top 10 last year.
Last year’s criteria included domestic selection events: “If quota positions remain after considering the preceding criteria, the top ranked athlete based on UCI points gained in the UCI Junior Men’s races at Kings CX, the Pan American Championship, the US National Championships and any 2023-2024 Junior Men’s UCI World Cup between October 28, 2023, and January 1, 2024, will be nominated to the Team.”
This criteria has been removed.
This is bumped up from top three last year.
New fully funded level for this season.
Different from the UCI junior men, there are no World Cup rankings for junior women, so this criteria is based on top 50 overall junior women rankings.
Similar to the junior men, no domestic races will be included as selection events. See fn. 18 above.
Seems pretty reasonable overall as well as attainable. I also like the UCI ranking taking precedence over winning a nationals jersey. Avoids the scenario of a seldom CX racer having a single good day and taking a spot from a more dedicated racer.