According to NOS, the UCI has given up its plans to introduce a new world ranking for the 2015 season. Due to opposition from the AIGCP, the union of cycling teams, they have decided to postpone the introduction until the 2016 season.

"You can't suddenly change the rules in January. That would be the same as suddenly in October to offer just one point for a victory instead the usual three points," Richard Plugge told Nos at the LottoNL-Jumbo presentation. Plugge is a board member of the AIGCP.

"We have raised the issue and the UCI has now said that they will now refine the rules in 2015." At the earliest, the new rules will be in place for 2016. "No one has taken us into account. Neither when it comes to the policy nor to the the strategy. This was new to us. It is much too early for us to say what this new rule will mean."

The organizers were also shocked by the sudden initiative which was announced yesterday, Plugge says. "Suddenly, some races are at the same level as Liege-Bastogne-Liege. There is still something to discuss."

This month AIGCP will discuss the situation with the UCI. They old initiative of smaller teams is also back on the table. "We now have 25 riders instead of 30. You can see that more teams have taken ithis nto account."