The World Cup was made up of around ten one-day races chosen from the prestigious classics.

In 1989, the classics making up the World Cup were: Milan–San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris–Roubaix, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, Amstel Gold Race, Wincanton Classic (Newcastle), Grand Prix of the Americas (Montreal), Clásica de San Sebastián, Züri-Metzgete, Grand Prix de la Liberation (Team Time Trial in Eindhoven), Paris-Tours, Giro di Lombardia.

In 1991, this time trial was contested in Bergamo (event counting as both the Grand Prix des Nations and the Trofeo Baracchi).

That same year, the final time trial was definitively replaced by the Grand Prix des Nations, contested in Palma de Mallorca .

From that year, the 10 classics making up the World Cup are therefore: Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Amstel Gold Race, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Hamburg Hew Cyclassics, Clásica de San Sebastián, Züri-Metzgete, Paris-Tours, Giro di Lombardia.

The races with grey background existed but was not in the World Cup calendar for that year The final time trial (1990-1993) was an invitation event.

A special rainbow jersey was then presented to the leading rider in the overall ranking of the World Cup.

He was obliged to wear this jersey in the further World Cup races as long as he held the lead in the overall standings.