March 3/06 12:02 pm - UCI Points & Prize Money for Norba Series

Posted by Editor on 03/3/06
 

U.S. Norba Series Gets UCI Sanctions and Prize Money
Courtesy USA Cycling

USA Cycling announced today that six of the seven 2006 National Mountain Bike Series events have been included on the UCI Calendar and USA Cycling will provide prize money for the UCI-sanctioned events.

The National Mountain Bike Series events in Fontana, Calif., May 5-7 and Banner Elk, N.C., June 10-11 have been granted Category 2 status from the UCI, while incumbent races in West Dover, Vt., June 17-18, Park City, Utah, July 8-9, Brian Head, Utah, August 5-6 and Snowmass Village, Colo., August 12-13 have received Category 1 status from the international governing body.

The events in Fontana and Banner Elk cannot obtain Category 1 designation as first-year events.

As a requirement for UCI sanctioning, USA Cycling has contributed more than $33,000 in prize money and inscription fees towards the national series - an important element in determining the number of start positions the U.S. will receive at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

The six National Mountain Bike Series events, plus the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. July 20-23, will provide U.S. athletes the opportunity to accumulate points that factor into a nation's overall ranking.

Points earned between Jan. 1, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2007 will count towards a nation's ranking and factor into the number of start positions a country receives at the 2008 Olympic Games.

The prize money contributed by USA Cycling for the national series events will be specific to men's and women's cross country races because they are the only recognized mountain bike disciplines at the Olympic Games.

In addition to securing more UCI-sanctioned events in the United States, USA Cycling will also announce plans next week for supporting its top professional riders to attend World Cup events in 2006 and 2007 in an effort to secure maximum start positions for the Beijing Games and further prepare athletes for world-class competition.

2006 National Mountain Bike Series Schedule

NMBS#1 May 5-7: Southridge Park - Fontana, Calif. (UCI C2)
NMBS#2 June 10-11: Sugar Mountain Resort - Banner Elk, N.C. (UCI C2)
NMBS#3 June 17-18: Mount Snow Resort - West Dover, Vt. (UCI C1)
NMBS#4 July 8-9: Deer Valley Resort - Park City, Utah (UCI C1)
NMBS#5 July 15-16: Infineon Raceway - Sonoma, Calif.
NMBS#6 Aug. 5-6: Brian Head Resort - Brian Head, Utah (UCI C1)
NMBS#7 Aug. 12-13: Snowmass Resort - Aspen, Colo. (UCI C1)