Union Cycliste Internationale – UCI Newsletter #58 – 25.03.2019
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear members,
This month’s joint Congress between the Union Européenne de Cyclisme (UEC) and the Confédération Africaine de Cyclisme (CAC) in Rome was unprecedented.
It was an enormous pleasure for me to join the 44 European National Federations and the 37 African Federations present for this meeting that brought the two Continental Congresses together for the first time. I am convinced that this will nurture cooperation between Europe and Africa, already linked by the Union Francophone de Cyclisme which unites the French-speaking National Federations. I salute CAC President Dr Mohamed Wagih Azzam and UEC President Mr Rocco Cattaneo for their active cooperation in ensuring the success of this double Congress.
We made the most of this gathering in Rome to organise a joint UCI Sharing Platform (USP) on 9 March, enabling National Federations to meet and learn from each other by sharing their experiences and knowledge. The UCI values this opportunity to meet our National Federations and provide support and guidance to help them develop cycling on their territories.
While in Rome, we were extremely privileged to have an audience at the Vatican with His Holiness Pope Francis, during which I gave a speech about cycling’s role in promoting peace and friendship. This was an exceptional and moving occasion for our National Federation delegates from Africa and Europe, regardless of personal religious beliefs. The visit will be long remembered by us all.
After my return from Rome, I attended the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Annual Symposium, my first as a member of the WADA Foundation Board. This event, organised this year on 13 and 14 March in Lausanne, offers anti-doping stakeholders the opportunity to gather and interact. Cycling is a leader in the field of anti-doping, and I am always happy to pass on our experience and hear about the challenges faced in other sports.
This year, the UCI organised its Partners’ Seminar in Switzerland on 19 and 20 March. Our partners provide essential support to the UCI and our events and it was a pleasure to welcome them to the UCI headquarters. We were able to update them on UCI projects contained in the UCI Agenda 2022 and hold discussions on topics related to digital communication, UCI events and corporate social responsibility.
On a sporting note, March was an important month for track cycling, with the UCI Track Cycling World Championships presented by Tissot in Pruszków, Poland (27 February – 3 March). I also attended a meeting of the UCI Track Commission in Pruszków, and was delighted by the presence of Kristina Vogel, who was voted riders’ representative last year. Her passion and knowledge are a great asset to us and I am delighted by her desire to continue serving on the Commission.
Following Pruszków, our next event on the track was the UCI Para-cycling Track Worlds in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands (14-17 March). We were pleased to welcome 13 para-cyclists to the UCI World Cycling Centre for a two-week training camp immediately before these Championships.
David Lappartient
UCI President
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UCI NEWS
The UCI has published its 2018 Yearbook
The UCI Yearbook, an album of photos in layflat format, looks back over the cycling season through a selection of 100 images showcasing all the different disciplines under the auspices of our Federation (road, track, mountain bike, BMX Racing, BMX Freestyle, cyclo-cross, trials and indoor cycling). Published in January and sent to our 194 National Federations and principal partners, our 2018 Yearbook will be on-line on the UCI website in the coming days. It will also be for sale.
UCI Sharing Platform (USP) for Europe and Africa
The USP took place on 8 March in the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) headquarters in Rome (ITA). This was the first opportunity for 102 people – representing 44 National Federations from Europe and 37 National Federations from Africa – to meet and discuss how best to develop cycling together. The UCI also explained the new application process for the UCI Solidarity Programme. As well as representatives of the National Federations, the USP saw the participation of Giovanni Malagò – President of the Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano (CONI), Francesco Ricci Bitti – President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), Rocco Cattaneo, UEC President, Dr. Mohamed Wagih Azzam, CAC President, and Renato Di Rocco, President of the host National Federation.
Presentations, documents and photos from the USP are now available on the National Federations‘ Extranet.
National Federations‘ participation in the 188th UCI Congress
The next UCI Congress will take place on 27 September 2019 in Harrogate, Yorkshire (GBR), alongside the UCI Road World Championships. Official invitations will be sent to the UCI’s National Federations in the coming weeks.
To support the participation of National Federations in this major UCI event, which brings together various members of the cycling family, the International Relations Department, in cooperation with the Local Organising Committee of Yorkshire, set up a procedure to facilitate visa applications for the United Kingdom. Although the process for obtaining a visa can only be initiated at the earliest three months before the date of travel, the International Relations Department will contact National Federations directly from now to help prepare a complete file, which can be submitted at the opening of the procedure.
You can contact us at internationalrelations@uci.ch for any questions related to your presence at the UCI Congress. More information about the process for visa application will be shared via the General Information Bulletin of the UCI Road World Championships, to be published on 1 April on the UCI website.
UCI Newsletter
The National Federations Newsletter has been renamed and from this March 2019 edition becomes the UCI Newsletter. We remind everyone involved in international cycling that it is essential to read this monthly document, which is distributed by email and also now available, in English and French, on the UCI website. This document is the preferred means of monthly communication concerning topics such as registration dates for UCI events and other deadlines of note. For new subscriptions, please contact the International Relations Department at internationalrelations@uci.ch.
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SPORTS
ROAD
UCI WorldTour Technical Advisers and Continental Advisers for the 2019 season
In place since 2016, the UCI team of Technical Advisers for the UCI WorldTour will increase to five in 2019. The main role of a UCI Technical Adviser is to conduct operational assessments of the organisational quality of UCI WorldTour events. Technical Advisers can also apply their expertise, by working in close collaboration with an event’s technical personnel and the appointed Commissaires‘ Panel, to carry out an analysis of specific situations relating to the organisation or rider security of an event.
UCI Technical Advisers:
Robbie Hunter, UWT Technical Adviser since 2017
Jean-François Pescheux, UWT Technical Adviser since 2016
Thomas Rohregger, UWT Technical Adviser since 2016
Jérémy Roy, new UWT Technical Adviser from 2019
Allan Davis, new UWT & UWWT Technical Adviser from 2019
The UCI Technical Adviser programme will be expanded to cover the UCI Women’s WorldTour in 2019. Allan Davis will work in this role for the 2019 season. He will also be working alongside the group of Technical Advisers on selected events of the UCI WorldTour. Allan comes to the UCI with 17 years of road racing experience as a professional rider (2001-2013) and one year (2018) as Sport Director with the UCI Women’s Team Wiggle-High5. Finally, Jérémy Roy, newly-retired from the professional peloton after a 16-year career (2003-2018) completes the team of Technical Advisers in 2019.
Since 2005 and the creation of the UCI Continental Circuits, the UCI has worked with Continental Advisers who oversee these circuits. In 2019, the four Continental Advisers will monitor the growth and activities of UCI-registered teams on each of the continents. They will also be involved in developing the number of races from each continent registered on the UCI Calendar. Our Continental Advisers play a key liaison role between the UCI and our continental actors.
UCI Continental Advisers:
Laurent Bezault, UCI Africa Tour Continental Adviser since 2013
Steve Peterson, UCI Oceania Tour Continental Adviser since 2017
Farhad Aliyev, UCI Asia Tour Continental Adviser since 2018
Pascale Schyns, UCI America Tour Continental Adviser since 2014
2019 UCI Road World Championships
Information Bulletin
All the key information to help National Teams plan for the 2019 UCI Road World Championships in Yorkshire (GBR) can be found in the General Information Bulletin which will be published on 1 April on our website.
UCI WorldTour Licence for team Application Procedure
According to the new UCI article 2.15.009, recently adopted by the Professional Cycling Council in Middelfart (DEN), current UCI WorldTeams intending to renew their licence or existing UCI Professional Continental Teams wishing to apply for a UCI WorldTour licence for team, must inform the UCI before 1 April 2019. UCI WorldTour licences for teams will be valid for a three-year period, from 2020 to 2022, subject to meeting the annual registration requirements. A detailed communication containing specific application requirements has been provided by the UCI to all UCI WorldTeams and UCI Professional Continental Teams.
2019 Sport Directors Course
We are pleased to announce that the Sport Directors certification course organised by the UCI will take place on 11-15 November 2019 at the and the UCI World Cycling Centre (WCC) in Aigle (Switzerland).
Registration for this course is reserved for Sport Directors or Assistant Sport Directors from UCI WorldTeams, UCI Professional Continental Teams and UCI Women’s Teams. From 2020 onwards, the certification will be obligatory for Sport Directors or Assistant Sport Directors of UCI Women’s WorldTeams.
In order to promote women in cycling’s technical roles, and to increase the number of women undertaking the role of Sport Director, the UCI is pleased to grant, as every year since 2015, a number of scholarships for women wishing to take part in the Sport Directors course.
For more information on the course and to apply, please visit our website. The deadline for submitting applications is 1 September 2019.
2019 UCI riders’ agent exam
The UCI will organise the annual exam for riders’ agents on 17 June 2019 in Aigle (SUI). The content of the exam is based on the UCI Regulations and its application.
For more information and registration please refer to the UCI website.
TRACK
2019 UCI Track Cycling World Championships presented by Tissot – Pruszków (POL)
Round-up
The UCI Track Cycling World Championships presented by Tissot ended on Sunday 3 March 2019, following five intense days of competition. The event included some great races as well as a world record in the men’s team pursuit; it was set by the Australian team, who improved their own world record by almost 1.8 seconds. It was a terrific performance, coming ten years after Denmark became UCI World Champions in this discipline on the very same track… by beating the Australians by more than ten seconds.
A total of 375 riders – 166 women (44%) and 209 men (56%) – representing 47 nations from all five continents, competed for the twenty titles at stake. Seventeen nations took home at least one medal from these World Championships.
You can find full results here.
2019-2020 UCI International Track Calendar
The 2019-2020 UCI International Track Calendar, which dates from the day after the 2019 UCI Track Cycling World Championships presented by Tissot, has been published on the UCI website.
Events may still be registered on the calendar; however, a late registration fee may be charged. The calendar procedure is available here, and the registration forms can be found on the National Federations Extranet.
2019-2020 UCI Track Teams
The list of 37 UCI Track Teams registered for the new season is available on the UCI website.
UCI Regulations – Part III Track events – as of 4 March 2019
As announced in the last Newsletter, the updated Part III of the UCI Regulations with the latest changes is now available in the left-hand column of the Regulations page on the UCI website.
The list of modified articles can be found in the right-hand column of the same page.
MOUNTAIN BIKE
2019 UCI Mountain Bike Teams
The list of the 2019 UCI MTB Teams (UCI ELITE MTB Teams and UCI Mountain Bike Teams) has been published on the UCI website. In total, 109 teams from 29 countries are registered for the 2019 season; Chile has registered a team for the first time.
2019 Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup
Updated information concerning the 2019 Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup will be regularly published on the UCI website. Please check the website for official schedules and deadlines relating to the series.
We would like to remind you that Teams and National Federations must book their Team/National Federation area with each Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup organiser; a form for this purpose is available on each organiser’s website at least one month before the event.
2019 Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup official documents
2019 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships presented by Mercedes-Benz
Updated information concerning the 2019 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships presented by Mercedes-Benz will be regularly published on the UCI website. Please check the 2019 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships presented by Mercedes-Benz official documents for schedule, online registration deadlines etc.
We remind you that the National Federation area must be booked directly with the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships organiser via a form available on the event’s website.
UCI E-Mountain Bike World Championships
The first-ever UCI E-Mountain Bike World Champions (E-MTB) will be crowned this year during the 2019 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships presented by Mercedes-Benz. The official documents, such as the competition schedule, have been published on the UCI website.
Mountain Bike Enduro World Series
The UCI expands its mountain bike offering in 2019 with the integration of the Enduro World Series into its Mountain Bike International Calendar.
The opening event took place in Rotorua (NZL) on 23-24 March, and is to be followed by the second round just a few days later (29-30 March) in Derby, Tasmania (AUS).
2019 UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup powered by citymountainbike.com
The 2019 UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup got underway on 23 March in Barcelona (Spain).
The expanded 2019 series features eight rounds in eight different countries, underlining the continued progression of the Eliminator discipline.
BMX RACING
2019 UCI BMX Regulations
The 2019 UCI BMX Regulations have been published on the UCI website.
UCI BMX Supercross World Cup
The competition guide for the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup in Manchester (GBR) is available on the UCI website.
BMX FREESTYLE
New UCI Regulations for 2019
You can now find the regulations on the UCI website (part VI bis).
2019 UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup – Registration Deadlines / Ranking Deadlines
With the increasing popularity of the UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup, it has been necessary to introduce a basic qualification system to restrict the number of entries. This will make it possible to respect the competition schedule. Participation is therefore limited to riders who have at least 50 points in the final UCI BMX Freestyle Park Individual Ranking before registration opens for each event.
An exception is made for riders in the top 50 of the last 2018 UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Cup ranking: these riders have the right to enter each World Cup event in 2019, regardless of their ranking as of the registration deadline.
The registration and ranking deadlines are available on the UCI website.
2019 UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Championships – Qualification Quota
With the increasing popularity of the UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Championships, it has been necessary to introduce a basic qualification system to restrict the number of entries. This will make it possible to respect the competition schedule. This is done by setting a registration limit for each country, based on the UCI BMX Freestyle Park Nations Ranking.
The ranking deadlines and qualification system for the 2019 UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Championships (to be held during the 2019 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships in Chengdu, China, on 7-10 November) are available on the UCI website.
TRIALS
2019 UCI Trials Commission Meeting, Organisers’ Seminar and Secretary Workshop
The 2019 UCI Trials Commission Meeting, Organisers’ Seminar and Secretary Workshop took place at the UCI Headquarters in Aigle (SUI) on 13-15 March.
During the commission meeting, members discussed the success of the new competition format implemented at the 2018 Trials World Championships. These changes will now be introduced to the 2019 UCI World Cup so that similar rules are in place for both the UCI World Championships and the UCI World Cup. This new regulation enabled better understanding of the sport for spectators and for TV viewers.
The Trials Organisers’ Seminar gives organisers an opportunity to meet, share experiences, and ask questions. Discussions were held to fully explain the new elements of the UCI Trials World Cup Organisation Guide and how to work effectively with their different partners.
The new format for the 2019 UCI Trials World Cup was the main focus for participants of the Secretary Workshop. The Secretaries were able to get in line with the technical aspects of the new format and its scoring system, whereby riders accumulate points across the five sections. The rider who scores the highest points is declared the winner.
Trials demonstrations at the 2019 UCI Road World Championships in Yorkshire (GBR)
The UCI will organise two trials demonstrations at the 2019 UCI Road World Championships in Yorkshire, given by multiple UCI World Champion Jack Carthy (GBR). The demonstrations will take place at the UCI Congress and during the UCI Official Dinner. This initiative will be a great opportunity to show National Federations what the trials discipline is all about and encourage them to develop the sport in their respective regions.
PARA-CYCLING
2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships
The UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships took place on Apeldoorn (NED) on 14-17 March. 252 riders from 36 nations took part in this successful event. This represents a new participation record.
Para-cycling Track training camp at the UCI WCC
Eleven riders from Australia, Estonia, Slovakia, France, Ireland, Italy, Indonesia and Switzerland took part in the training camp organised by the UCI WCC in Aigle. The same riders then participated in the 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Apeldoorn (NED), where the Australian tandem of Jessica Gallagher and her pilot Madison Janssen won the silver medal in the Women’s B sprint.
Online registration dates for World Cup rounds
The online registration dates for the different rounds of the UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup are available on the UCI website.
The system will open on 3 April for the round in Corridonia (ITA), and on 10 April for the round in Ostend (BEL). Information bulletins are available on the UCI website.
Classification
The Classification Committee met on 6-7 March in Amsterdam (NED), alongside the 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships. Several topics were discussed, including research on classification and eligibility criteria. A recertification seminar for UCI International Classifiers took place immediately afterwards; its aim was to ensure consistency, and to update classifiers on the current regulations.
INDOOR CYCLING
2019 UCI Cycle-ball World Cup
The 2019 season will begin on 6 April in Ailingen (GER), a town that already hosted a round of the series, back in 2016. The Czech Republic, Germany, Austria and Switzerland will have teams present at the tournament.
Quotas and team registration details have been sent to the indoor cycling representatives of the relevant National Federations.
The competition programme will be published on the UCI website shortly.
We would like to remind you that the registration deadline for teams to participate in the UCI World Cup was Monday 4 March 2019.
Please address any questions you may have to indoor@uci.ch.
2019 UCI Artistic Cycling World Cup
The first round of the UCI World Cup was held on 9 March in Prague (CZE). The results and current rankings are available on the UCI website.
The next World Cup stop will be in Merelbeke (BEL) on 25 May.
2019 UCI Indoor Cycling World Championships
Ahead of the UCI World Championships which will take place on 6-8 December in Basel (SUI), we are pleased to announce that tickets for the event can be bought via Ticketino and Ticketcorner.
Please address all requests for information concerning this event to indoor@uci.ch.
MASS EVENTS
2019 UCI Gran Fondo World Series
The 2019 UCI Gran Fondo World Series continued with the Bathurst Cycling Classic on 16-17 March in Bathurst (AUS), and will be followed by the Tour of Bintan (INA) and Cyprus Granfondo (CYP) taking place on 29-31 March.
In April, four qualifier events will provide athletes with an opportunity to qualify for the 2019 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships taking place in Poznan (Poland) on 29 August-1 September: the Tour de Brisbane in Brisbane (AUS) on 14 April; the Greek Granfondo on the island of Kos (GRE) on 19-21 April; La Bourgogne, a new event in Vire en Maconnais (FRA) on 27 April, and the new GF Rio de Janeiro, exploring the Green Coast of Rio (BRA) on 29 April.
2020 UCI Gran Fondo World Series – Final deadline for event registration
As communicated in the February newsletter, the application deadline for events on the 2020 UCI Gran Fondo World Series calendar is set for 31 March 2019.
Giving riders the chance to win a coveted UCI rainbow jersey at the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, UCI Gran Fondo World Series events are also an opportunity to promote tourism and develop cycling in different regions around the world.
National Federations still interested in proposing events for the Series are encouraged to contact the UCI at massevents@uci.ch to follow the complete bidding procedure.
Upcoming events
ROAD – TRACK – MOUNTAIN BIKE
BMX RACING – BMX FREESTYLE – PARA-CYCLING
TRIALS – INDOOR – CYCLO-CROSS
CYCLING FOR ALL
Cycling for All and the European PACTE project
Promoting Active Cities Throughout Europe (PACTE) is a three-year project, financed by the Erasmus+ programme, which aims to increase physical activity rates across Europe and create Active Cities.
The UCI Cycling for All team attended the PACTE project’s Active Education Workshop in Berlin on 21-22 February 2019. Physical activity and education for children was the focus of the two days of presentations, panel discussions and group dialogues that brought together representatives of the German Physical Education (PE) Teachers Association, the Swiss PE Teachers Association, the Flemish School Sport Federation, School on the Move – Finland, TU Munich, Bikeability, the UCI and the Cities of Madeira (POR), Viana do Castelo (POR), Lisbon (POR), Turku (FIN), Liverpool (GBR) and Berlin (GER).
The case studies presented during the workshop, including examples from the very successful Bikeability children’s cycling education programme, will be used to produce the new PACTE Active City Matrix, designed to help cities start an Active City programme using three key pillars: Active Education, Active Workplaces and Active Transport.
For more information regarding PACTE, please contact the UCI Cycling for All team at CyclingforAll@uci.ch or visit the PACTE project website.
Velo-City 2019 in Dublin
The Velo-City conference is the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) annual global cycling summit and the world’s largest conference about cycling, cycling infrastructure, bicycle innovations, bicycle safety, and the social and cultural changes driven by cycling on a global scale. It brings together participants and organisations from around the world involved in policy, promotion and the provision of cycling facilities and programmes.
Velo-City 2019 will take place on 25-28 June in Dublin (IRL). We encourage National Federations interested in cycling advocacy and the sharing of best practices to attend this unique gathering. The theme this year is Cycling for the Ages, focusing on how to make cycling accessible to people of all ages and abilities, young and old, male and female, as part of their daily transport and recreation. The UCI Cycling for All team will be present and available to meet with any National Federations attending the event.
SPOTLIGHT ON…NATIONAL FEDERATIONS‘ FEMALE PRESIDENTS
Earlier this month, on 8 March, we celebrated International Women’s Day.
This was an occasion to look at the actions of the UCI to strengthen the place of women in the governance of the sport.
The UCI’s Agenda 2022 contains numerous actions to increase the representation of women at the head of our sport. At the Congress in Yorkshire (GBR) this September, there will be a vote for a change to the UCI Statutes to, among others, establish a minimum percentage of women on the Management Committees of the UCI and Continental Confederations as well as on National Federation executive committees.
The UCI has been striving for several years to promote equity between men and women in cycling. Our charter to promote men/women equality within the UCI’s administration focuses on several key areas, including equity of salaries and opportunities. On the sporting side, all staff members of UCI Women’s Teams must now sign an Acknowledgement and Recognition of Ethical Principles. Next year this requirement will extend to all UCI Road Teams then to UCI Teams for all disciplines in the near future. Under our equality charter for podium ceremonies the same number of men and women must participate in the ceremonies, and their outfits must be approved beforehand by the UCI.
Since 2016, prize money for men and women has been equal at all UCI World Championships and following approval by the UCI Management Committee in January concerning cyclo-cross, equal prize money will also apply for all UCI World Cups by 2022.
An important reform has been approved for the professionalism of UCI Women’s Teams with the creation of the UCI Women’s WorldTeams in 2020. This reform will focus on team members’ salaries and working conditions as well as an increase in anti-doping controls and the global stability of teams.
The UCI is working on a Women in Cycling Toolkit for National Federations that will be launched at the UCI Congress in September. The goal is to help National Federations set up global strategies and actions for the development of women’s cycling.
As the UCI’s first female Director General, it gives me great pleasure to know that we have women at the head of some of our National Federations, carrying out incredible work for our sport, rising to different challenges and finding solutions. Below, we hear from some of these Federation Presidents who are committed to our sport and who are at the same time paving the way for women in the governance of cycling.
Amina Lanaya
UCI Director General
Sharon Lowe
President: Anguilla Cycling Association (AIA)
Elected: January 2016
Biggest challenge so far: obtaining the needed finances to help advance the sport and get our cyclists the training and exposure they need.
Important achievement: Under my leadership our Federation has been accepted as an affiliated member of the UCI. This is something we have long been seeking to accomplish
Development of women’s cycling: We are a small island, just 25 square miles, and many women are not interest in competing in the sport. So we have gone into schools to promote the sport and develop and interest school-aged children. We hope they will stick with it and help us achieve our goal of having female cyclists.
Natallia Tsylinskaya
President: Belarusian Cycling Federation (BLR)
Elected: May 2017
Biggest challenge so far: The main problems that I inherited were an insufficient technical base and outdated equipment
Important achievement: The arrival of a new Polish coach Andrzej Tolomanov, who will play a decisive role in the progress of our riders, and the organisation of a Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup in 2018. We are preparing another round in 2019 as well as the 2019 European Games in Minsk.
Development of women’s cycling: We are expanding the women’s racing calendar and a UCI Women’s Team has been formed.
Sonia Ramos Acuña
President: Federación Boliviana de Ciclismo (BOL)
Elected: July 2018
Biggest challenge so far: to get elected as a woman President in a world dominated by men.
Important achievement: Under my mandate we have achieved 100% of cycling competitions on the national cycling calendar. Previously it was common to cancel programmed races due to lack of funds.
Development of women’s cycling: We include women in all the national championships with the same rights and opportunities as male cyclists. We offer the same prizes, same incentives and the same number of races.
Joylene Griffiths
President: Jamaica Cycling Federation (JAM)
Elected: January 2018
Biggest challenge so far: operating without administrative support and relying 100% on volunteer support to raise funding for events and to attract sponsorship for athletes representing Jamaica overseas.
Important achievement: A top cycling coach from cycling Australia is in Jamaica to host the first coaching programme geared towards Physical Education teachers, coaches of other sports and cyclists who want to become coaches.
Development of women’s cycling: Our first ever cycling programme in schools, Let’s Ride – which is in partnership with Cycling Australia – includes girls. One of the schools on the waiting list is an all girls’ school. Our coach from Australia, who is a former national rider and female Tour de France competitor, will be meeting with and speaking to these girls so they can dream about what is possible for women in cycling.
Tanzila Narbaeva
President: Uzbekistan Cycling Federation (UZB)
Elected: June 2013
Biggest challenge: Starting from scratch. Although there were talented athletes and coaches, the Federation had no material or technical base, and there were no subdivisions in the regions.
Important achievement: Thanks to the joint efforts of our team and the support of the government we have increased mass cycling, especially among young people. We created cycling units in all 14 regions of the country, opened cycling groups in almost all Olympic reserve schools and increased student quotas for the cycling department of the Institute of Physical Culture and Sports.
Development of women’s cycling: The Cycling Federation and the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to popularise this sport among women. We carry out a set of measures aimed at developing and increasing the mass popularity of cycling.
We leave the final word to… Aminata Mara
President: Fédération Guinéenne de Cyclisme (GUI)
Elected: November 2016
“Sport has the power to break down the barriers of sex, ethnicity, religion and nationality. It encourages health and well-being, improves self-esteem, teaches leadership, team spirit and perseverance. Women in sport challenge stereotypes linked to gender, become examples to follow and show that women and men are equal.
“It is increasingly recognised by numerous industries that women broaden opportunities, come up with unprecedented ideas and innovations and touch new audiences. Having said that, there is still a long way to go before seeing total equity in the world of sport.”
UCI PARTNERS
UCI Partners gather together for a two-day seminar in Aigle
The UCI welcomed more than 30 UCI Partner representatives to its head office in Aigle, Switzerland, during its annual UCI Partners Seminar on 19-20 March. The event combined information sessions, workshops and individual meetings. Tissot, Shimano, Mercedes-Benz, Oakley, Telenet, Yorkshire Tea and Mitas were among the partners in attendance.
UCI President David Lappartient and UCI Director General Amina Lanaya gave a comprehensive update on the progress of the delivery of Agenda 2022 and the challenges to come. UCI Chief Financial Officer Jeremy Conrad-Pickles presented results from Economic Impact Studies carried out on major UCI World Championships, and Head of Digital, Communications, Marketing and Sales Bertrand Vedovotto introduced a few strategic marketing topics and opportunities for partners such as digital marketing, CSR and on-site engagement. The break-down sessions opened up a number of new ideas and possible areas for cooperation at UCI events. Outside the meetings, partners were invited to ride on the UCI World Cycling Centre’s track and meet other UCI Heads of Departments during lunch and dinner.
“The overarching objective of the Seminar is to share and stimulate practical ideas and synergies between our partners,” said Bertrand Vedovotto. “We all evolve in a fast-moving environment so it is critical that we take some time together to challenge ourselves and reflect on each other’s experiences. The seminar has confirmed to us the importance and pertinence of the projects that we are working on for the future and has brought up some new concepts worth reflecting on,” he added.
#SOCIALMEDIA
UCI WCC CORNER
BMX training split between Manchester and Aigle
The UCI World Cycling Centre’s high-performance BMX athletes returned to Switzerland at the beginning of March after a seven-week training block in Manchester, Great Britain.
The five athletes – from Japan, Denmark, Belgium and Chile – were able to make use of the indoor track at British Cycling’s National Cycling Centre as their campaign for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games intensifies. They also had access to world class facilities such as the Manchester Institute of Health & Performance.
“The off-season lays the foundation for the racing ahead and training consisted of both physical and technical sessions,” explains UCI WCC Coach and 2013 UCI World Champion Liam Phillips (GBR), who added that the primary objective had been to gain strength and muscle mass.
He said the athletes had spent hours studying the intricate data collected from the timing system installed in Manchester’s indoor BMX track. Phillips also believes the athletes have matured after the experience of sharing a house and having to cook and look after themselves.
The WCC coach was delighted to take his athletes to his former training ground which had “massively bolstered” his own career: “I have the data from my own training and racing at the indoor facility. I know what the gold standard is, and I now have data on all the WCC athletes that highlights areas for improvement.”
Back at the UCI WCC in Aigle, Switzerland, the athletes continue their preparation on the centre’s outdoor Supercross track in the lead up to the first races of the season, including the opening round of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup in Manchester on 27-28 April.
Para-cycling track camp before Worlds
Technique, race tactics and core strength were the focus of a two-week para-cycling camp organised at the UCI WCC from 25 February to 10 March.
Thirteen para-cyclists made the most of the centre’s facilities and expert coaching staff as they put the finishing touches to their preparation for the 2019 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands (14-17 March).
Funded by the International Paralympic Committee, the camp saw the participation of tandems and C class athletes from Australia, Estonia, Slovakia, Ireland, Italy, Indonesia, Switzerland and France.
Women’s coaching and mechanics course
Ten women from as many countries took part in a women’s coaching and mechanics course from 25 February to 9 March. The UCI / Olympic Solidarity course gave the women a solid grounding in essential coaching skills and basic mechanics. They also attended the first UCI WCC soigneur seminar.
Armed with the Level 2 Coaching Certificate and Level 1 Mechanics Certificate, the women will use their newly-acquired skills and knowledge to further develop cycling and encourage new coaches in their own countries: Brazil, Slovakia, Guam, Portugal, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Nigeria, El Salvador, Thailand and Swaziland.
The women’s course is part of the UCI Coach Development Programme.
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