If I remember correctly, there is only ever one generation of backup stored in iCloud. Especially in scenarios like yours with different software versions, this is not enough. My recommendation is both still keeping the previous iOS/iPadOS version as long as Apple still supports it during the transition period. And additionally to iCloud backups, do manual backups to a PC or Mac with iTunes/Finder. There you can have multiple backup generations.
Man nimmt den unentgeltlich arbeitenden Mods also Macht weg und versucht so, Blackouts wie letztes Jahr zur APIcalypse zu unterbinden.