More than 20 teams from eight nations, six rounds and the Final: these are what players and fans alike have to look forward to at the 2022 UCI Cycle-ball World Cup. Twenty years after its debut in 2002, this international series of tournaments continues to provide a season-long narrative for the discipline and its teams at the highest level.
After the cancellation of the entire 2020 UCI World Cup season due to the Covid-19 pandemic, then a significantly reduced series with only three tournaments and the Final in 2021, the packed and exciting competition is back in full force.
As medal winners of the last UCI World Championships, Germany, Austria and Switzerland are each allowed to send three teams to the race. The Czech Republic has two teams and Belgium and France are represented by one team each. Throughout the season, there will also be appearances from several Under 23 teams as well as rookies and wildcard teams from the respective hosts.
Three teams stand out among the favourites: UCI World Champions from Germany, RMC Stein (Bernd Mlady/Gerhard Mlady); UCI World Cup defenders from Austria, Dornbirn (Patrick Schnetzer/Stefan Feurstein); 2021 UCI World Championship silver medallists from Switzerland, RMV Pfungen (Severin and Benjamin Waibel).
Action starts this weekend in St Pölten (Austria) followed by tournaments in Dorlisheim (France), Berlin and Hardt (Germany), St Gallen (Switzerland) and Beringen (Belgium). The final will take place in Sulgen (Germany).
The first round will see defending champions, Schnetzer/Feurstein, playing in their home country. The two German teams, RV Obernfeld (André Kopp/Raphael Kopp) and RSC Schiefbahn (Sven Holland-Moritz/Marius Hermanns), look set to provide the toughest challengers in Austria.
Local heroes Michael Schlachtner and Manuel Schlachtner from ARBÖ St Pölten, will start with the host wildcard. This will be the fourth time they’ve competed here together. In 2005 they enjoyed their UCI World Cup premiere, finishing 10th at their home tournament. The Schlachtner duo then finished 9th in 2013 and 8th in 2017.
Programme for opening round of 2022 UCI Cycle-ball World Cup, St Pölten
2022 UCI Cycle-ball World Cup calendar
11 June, St. Pölten (Austria)
27 August, Dorlisheim (France)
10 September, Berlin (Germany)
24 September, in Hardt (Germany)
15 October, St.Gallen (Switzerland)
29 October, Beringen (Belgium)
Final: 26. November Sulgen (Germany)