It may well be money, but y'all are missing the point.
National Unions have deals. The Belgians/Dutch just want to win at cross. Italy and Spain are fine by that, they come up with weak programs, although the odd fast lady from Italy is hard to slow down. It happens.
USA wanted to be left alone on the road, and as long as they were, no inspiring results. Armstrong out, US crossers in.
In return, the Dutch/Belgians only have supertalents surfacing in big road cares (Boom, Gilbert). Hard to control that, it happens.
Things are the way they are, because they just are that way.