New regulations released by the International Cycling Union (UCI) on Wednesday include a radical overhaul of the rules governing marathon racing, with the newly-formed UCI Marathon Mountain Bike Series to serve as qualification for the world championships from 2011 onwards.
The new regulations come into effect from January 1, 2011 and while the UCI has made changes to existing rules for 4-cross and Elite teams, the biggest changes have been saved for the marathon discipline.
Races listed on the UCI’s Marathon Mountain Bike Series will now provide the basis for qualification for the world championships. The top-20 men and women of each round of the UCI marathon series will automatically qualify for the world championships, as will the top-50 of the individual general marathon series ranking.
Points for the overall ranking will be awarded at each event to the top-40 men on a descending scale from 40 to 1, with the top-20 women picking up points on a similar 20-to-1 scale. Grids will be based on the overall series, with cross-country rankings to provide a back-up system. The 2011 World Championship results will set the grid for the first race in the series after that event.
The UCI series will not introduce new races to the calendar, instead counting existing events as part of the series. But the system will give riders, particularly elites, a number of options when it comes to qualifying for worlds. The direct qualification system will mean riders will be able to qualify for worlds without having to chase points at a number of races.
While details of the events that will make up the new series are yet to be announced they will adhere to the following criteria. Events will need to be a minimum of 70 kilometres to a maximum 100 kilometres for women, and a minimum of 80 kilometres to maximum 120 kilometres for men. Multi-lap races will be permitted up to a maximum of three laps.
Registration for each race in the series will be open to all riders over the age of 19 who hold a UCI license.
Full details of the changes to the UCI’s mountain-bike regulations can be found on their website.
UCI Elite Mountain Bike Team selections announced
Following the release of the new regulations on Wednesday, the UCI today announced the 15 professional endurance cross-country teams that will carry the body’s UCI Elite Mountain Bike Team label for the 2011 season.
The teams will be obliged to enter at least one rider in each of the 2011 MTB cross-country World Cup and carry the UCI Elite Mountain Bike Team logo on their race clothing and team vehicles. In return, the teams will be granted free entry to all World Cup rounds, as well as all races on the UCI’s Mountain Bike International Calendar.
Invitation to the list was based on the rankings of their top riders at the end of the 2010 season. The UCI said in a statement that it believes the “new system should stimulate competition between the teams wishing to achieve the status of ‘UCI Elite Mountain Bike Team’.”
All the cross-country teams invited by the UCI accepted the new statute.
The full list of UCI Elite Endurance Mountain Bike Teams for 2011 is:
• Specialized Factory Racing Team (USA)
• Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team (SUI)
• Subaru-Trek (USA)
• Multivan Merida Biking Team (GER)
• Orbea Racing Team (ESP)
• Trek World Racing (ESP)
• Team Colnago (ITA)
• Luna Pro Team (USA)
• Central Pro Team (GER)
• Cannondale Factory Racing (GER)
• Topeak Ergon Racing Team (GER)
• BH SR Suntour (FRA)
• Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team (NED)
• Rubena – Birell – Specialized Cycling Team (CZE)
• Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team (GER)