The UCI has changed the rules of participation for the team relay test event before the start of the Cyclocross World Championships on Friday at Centennial Park in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic forced the sport's governing body to reduce the number of riders per team from six to four due to lower than expected participation.

"Many national teams arrived in Fayetteville for the 2022 Walmart UCI Cyclocross World Championships, but numbers were reduced for riders who were unable to travel due to illness or quarantine.

"The UCI has reduced the number of riders per team from six to four so that nations entering the team relay test event on Friday can field teams despite the limited number of riders.

Each participating team will line up two women and two men riders, including one junior female or under-23 female, one under-23 female or elite female, one junior male or under-23 male, and one under-23 male or elite male category. In addition, each country could now enter two teams of four members each.

Initially, each team consisted of one elite male, one elite female, two males and two females from the under 23 and/or junior categories.

The UCI decided on the following teams: Belgium, Canada A, Canada B, Czech Republic, Italy, USA A, USA B

During the team relay, each racer would complete one lap of the 3 km circuit and then switch with a teammate waiting in the transition zone. Therefore, each team will compete four laps instead of six.

"Aside from a change in the number of team members, the overall concept remains the same, providing an interesting and exciting pre-event that could become a regular event. Indeed, this test event will be evaluated with a view to possibly incorporating a team relay (six-person) into the UCI Cyclocross World Championships program in the future," the UCI wrote.