The World Cup, due to take place on Sunday (December 5), was called off as organisers deemed them "unable to respect the health safety standards recently imposed to fight against the current pandemic."

In a statement, the UCI said: "In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Union Cycliste Internationale and Flanders Classics have taken note of the organisers' unilateral decision to cancel the round of the 2021-2022 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Antwerp, Belgium, initially scheduled to take place on 5 December 2021.

"The organisers judged that they would be unable to respect the health safety standards recently imposed to fight against the current pandemic.

"The UCI would like to thank riders, teams, National Federations and all parties concerned for their understanding."

The next round of the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup is due to take place in Val di Sole in Italy on December 12.