Velon, a joint business venture between 11 WorldTour teams, filed an anti-trust complaint to the European Commission against the UCI back in October where they called for an investigation into the way the UCI has implemented existing regulations.

They claimed the UCI had sought to introduce new regulations designed to favour the governing body's business interests to the detriment of Velon and the teams.

One of their central complaints surrounded the Hammer Series, which has races of three days with separate challenges for teams with sprint, climbs and team time trials.

Velon have said their board have now decided not to hold the Hammer Series in 2020, with their latest update claiming the UCI have recently prevented Hammer Stavanger from adding a women’s race, with full parity of prize money, broadcast and race format to the men's race.

“These actions have made it impossible for Velon and its race organiser partners to successfully develop the Hammer Series and its races," a Velon statement read.

“As a result of this continued attack, the Velon Board convened and took the decision not to hold the Hammer Series in 2020.

“Velon, the owner of the Hammer Series, is working closely with the race organisers of the existing Hammer races regarding the operation of their events planned for 2020 in light of the actions of the UCI.

“The race organiser of Hammer Stavanger, Tour des Fjords AS, and Velon have together decided to suspend Hammer Stavanger for 2020.

“The race had planned to expand to a women’s event, with full parity of prize money, broadcast and race format for the women’s teams, but the UCI blocked the race and in doing so cost the race organiser key funding and sponsorship.”

Velon added that they will continue with their anti-competition complaint against the UCI, which they expanded on the grounds of gender discrimination in November 2019.

Velon claim their Hammer Series and its races have gathered widespread support from participating teams, riders and millions of fans.

Organisers say the purpose of the Hammer Series is for it to grow into a 10 race series across key European and international markets, which would offer fans the season-long narrative with short-form, high impact races, and aiming to bring in younger fans into the sport.

Velon consists of the WorldTour teams Bora-Hansgrohe, CCC Team, Deceuninck–QuickStep, EF Education First, Lotto Soudal, Mitchelton-Scott, Team Ineos, Team Jumbo-Visma, Team Sunweb, Trek-Segafredo and UAE Team Emirates.

"We fought hard to win the Hammer Series in 2018, and everyone in our team, riders and staff, wants it to continue,” said Shayne Bannon, Mitchelton-SCOTT general manager.

“But the UCI has stifled every attempt to take Hammer to new locations around the world and we now want to place matters in the hands of the European Commission, where we believe our case will win and we'll be able to bring Hammer back for fans in the future."

Velon launched the Hammer Series in Limburg in The Netherlands, in June 2017, and made the races available free-to-watch online for fans around the world.

In 2018, the Series was expanded to three races - Hammer Stavanger, Hammer Limburg and Hammer Hong Kong.

The cancellation of the Stavanger event has led to a reprieve for the Tour of Norway, with organisers of the race announcing it will replace the Hammer Series competition on the calendar.

Organisers had announced in December the race would not take place in 2020 amid a lack of resources.

“We are very happy to be able to organise the race in 2020," said Roy Hegreberg, Tour of Norway general manager.

"Tour of Norway is Norway's largest and most important cycling race, and we know it will mean a lot to many people that we are able to arrange the event this year after all. 

"It wouldn’t have been possible without good cooperation with sponsors, municipalities, the police and the road authorities. 

"We will together with them and all of our volunteers work hard to organise a fantastic event in the end of May.”

Tour of Norway will take place from May 21 to 24, with the race set to centre around the south-west of Norway.

Responding to the initial Velon complaint issued last year, the UCI said it would “ take necessary steps according to appropriate procedure.”

The governing body added they would continue to work with “all its stakeholders, and in their best interests, for the new organisation of men’s professional road cycling.”

According to cyclingnews, UCI President David Lappartient rejected Velon's claims in January.

"We are in front of the European Commission with Velon," he said.

"We disagree with what they said and we will demonstrate this, and have proof and evidence of behaviour that is probably in conflict with European law.

"I am not sure this is the right way to resolve problems. 

"We will both spend a lot of money and, if I remember correctly, Velon was made to create more revenue, yet we are spending more revenue even if it could take around six or seven years to reach the end of the case."

The UCI is not the first governing body to have been referred to the European Commission in recent years.

The International Skating Union (ISU) were forced to soften their rules surrounding events arranged by third-party organisers after the European Commission ruled against them in December 2017.

The International Swimming Federation initially attempted to stop the emergence of the rival International Swimming League, before backing down after anti-trust lawsuits were lodged.

Additionally, the International Basketball Federation has been involved in a feud with EuroLeague over the sport's calendar in what the world body claim is a "commercially-driven attack to the national teams".