What Telluride was last season, the Italian ski resort Séstriere is this year: Shortly before the opening of the season, the organizers run out of steam and the UCI either has to shorten the World Cup (2003 season) or determine new venues at short notice (2004 season). Last year's cancellation of Telluride meant that no World Cup will be held in the USA this year - no organizer could guarantee the UCI the necessary security.

What the UCI tried to prevent with stricter guidelines has now happened anyway. It is not yet known why exactly Séstriere has decided not to hold the World Cup. The Americans in particular are unlikely to be happy about this, as they were very disappointed to miss out this season.