June 16/10 15:43 pm - Report from the UCI ProTour Council Meeting in Birmingham

Posted by Editoress on 06/16/10
 

The UCI ProTour Council (UPTC) met today in Birmingham in the United Kingdom.

The members approved a new UCI ProTeam registration system for the 2011 season. The changes introduced are mainly to simplify the existing procedure while placing more emphasis on the sporting values of the teams.

The procedures for registration and the award of licences to UCI ProTeams – a maximum of 18 – have been unified. These procedures are now conducted simultaneously. A team can no longer receive a licence if it is not registered.

The criteria considered – sporting, ethical, financial and administrative – are unchanged. However, the calculation of the teams' sporting values has been completely revised. This will now be based on the values of riders contracted by a team for the following year. These values are calculated from the riders' results over the two previous seasons. The values will be calculated on the basis of the UCI World Ranking, Continental Rankings, U23 Ranking, podium places in Grand Tours and victories in the most important events (World Calendar, HC Class, Classes 1 and 2, Continental Championships, National Championships and World Championships).

In terms of the registration schedule, on 20 November each year the UCI will announce the list of teams to which UCI ProTour licences will be awarded. The list of teams registered in the second division will also be announced on this date. If these lists leave some team places left to be announced, the names of the final teams to be awarded licences will be published in definitive lists on 10 December.

Participation in the biological passport programme is now mandatory for all first and second division teams. As a result, wild card status will no longer exist.

The UPTC also decided to introduce regulations on the functions of riders' agents. As a result, from 1 January 2012, the UCI will be one of the first International Federations to have strict regulations in place concerning agents. This measure aims to establish a list of certified agents in which riders can trust.

Finally, the UPTC members acknowledged, with satisfaction, the plan to organise a Juniors Conference at the UCI Juniors World Championships from 2011. Some 400 junior athletes will attend the Conference together with team staff to hear presentations on subjects such as the role of the UCI, the main players in the family of cycling, ethics and the professions of cycling. The young athletes’ attendance at the Conference will be obligatory. The Conference will be part financed by the stakeholders of the UCI ProTour. Its objective will be to reinforce the supervision of young athletes, from their first steps in the world of cycling, in order to promote a healthy, positive culture for the future.

UCI Press Service