Chantal van den Broeck-Blaak (SD Works) and Jocelyn Roden (Uno X Pro Cycling) announced their respective pregnancies in January and will take maternity leave from racing in 2023, but their teams will not replace them, even though new rules allow it Despite the new rules allowing for this, their teams will not be substituting for them.

The UCI introduced a new maternity leave clause this year that allows trade teams to hire replacements to fill the vacancies of riders on maternity leave. However, both teams told Cycling News that they have tentatively decided not to invite new riders.

SD Worx and Uno-X will race with a 15-rider team in 2023.

Roden, a former world time record holder, announced on social media that he and his partner Dan Bigam will have a child in the summer of 2023. 'We are getting ready to embark on the journey of our lives.

"We are thrilled to share the news that we will be welcoming BigLow into the world in July. We are very excited and feel very happy, but also a little excited."

Van den Broeck-Braak announced her pregnancy at the SD Worx team presentation on January 17, joining her teammates on stage at the Royal Museum in Antwerp.

"It's strange (to take a vacation), but it's for a good cause. I'm due at the end of May and I'm feeling really good. As an athlete, I don't feel great, but I can't compare myself as an athlete. As a normal woman, I feel good," van den Broek-Black said.

"I'm going to stay involved, I was with the team at the training camp in the US in December, and also in Spain for a few days. I want to stay involved with the team as long as possible, but it will be difficult. Once the baby is born, I will probably be away for a few months."

The former world champion appeared to be retiring from the sport in 2022, but last year she made the decision to withdraw her impending retirement and instead renewed her contract until the end of 2024.

At the time, she said that after talking with her husband, family, and team, she decided to stay active.

Van den Broek-Blaak said she would continue to be involved with the players in a coaching and mentoring capacity for the first half of this season.

"I'm not racing this year, but I'm going to stay involved as long as I can. Coaching is something I'm already doing. I try to help the younger riders a little bit. It's nice to have that extra contact with them from time to time and to share my experience."

"It's not always easy to help others when you're on a bike. Of course, I try, and it's in my nature to help everyone. When I focus on myself, I forget about the people around me. Now I have the time and I like doing these things, so I try to help as much as I can."

Van den Broek-Blaak, who took some time off after giving birth, aims to return to the team next winter, with tentative plans to return to racing in 2024. Of course, everything has to fall into place, and I think that's a realistic goal. I hope to have a good race next year [2024], but it will be a long road back,' she said."

The UCI has introduced a maternity leave clause in the standard contract for women's world teams starting in 2020. Article 2.13.192 allows women contracted to the top teams to take three months of leave while receiving 100% of their salary, followed by another five months at 50% of salary. The current minimum salary is €32,102 (employed)/€52,647 (self-employed).

In a series of sweeping rule changes for the 2023 Women's World Tour, the sports governing bodies announced that in the case of maternity leave, women's world teams will have the flexibility to register a replacement rider at any time during the season, even outside the registration period, in accordance with article 2.13.199 The team announced that it now has the flexibility to register a replacement rider at any time during the season, even outside of the registration period.

However, the rider may not be registered with any other Women's World Team or Continental Team.

SD Walks told Cycling News that it does not intend to use the new clause to fill Van den Broek-Blaak's position on the team while he is on leave.

"No, we are not going to take advantage of this clause," the team said, and team manager Danny Stamm said he is happy for Van den Broek-Blaak to continue working with the team in her capacity as coach." We will miss her in the peloton and on the team, but it is always good to be able to rely on her knowledge."

Uno-X General Manager and CEO Jens Haugland said that Uno-X Pro Cycling will continue to pay 100% of Roden's salary for 2023, and 2024 He told Cycling News that the company is also preparing a contract renewal offer for 2024.

"We are not looking to replace her at this time, but the situation could always change," Haugland said. Jos will receive 100% of her contract this year, and (if she continues to race) her contract will automatically be extended for another year," Haugland said.