UCI World Cycling Tour: Cycling's enthusiasts can become World Champions
A new cycling tour for amateur riders that will ultimately crown age group World Champions is being launched by the UCI in 2011. The UCI World Cycling Tour (UWCT) is a series of UCI-sanctioned races that will be held all over the world. The UWCT will comprise a maximum of 15 qualifier events, leading to the UWCT Final, the former UCI Masters Road World Championships. The top 25% in each age group of the qualifier events will automatically have the right to compete in the UWCT Final and race for the coveted UCI rainbow jersey.
The UCI has entered into a partnership with the sports marketing company Golazo Sports (Belgium) to create the UWCT Corporation. This corporation will be responsible for the overall organization, coordination and marketing aspects of the UWCT qualifier events. The UCI's Cycling for All, Masters and Sustainable Development Coordinator, Ms Andrea Marcellini Mendonça, explains the importance of this amateur tour: "If we look at cycling as a pyramid, professional racing is at the very top and occupies a very small portion. Everything that comes below this is the amateur side of the sport and involves impressive numbers of riders. These enthusiasts are part of the UCI family and it's time for them to race for a World Champion title".
Another aim of this new initiative is to contribute to the international promotion of the UCI's "Cycling for All" events. All races on the UWCT calendar must meet strict organisational and sporting criteria, and provide a certain touristic interest.
Golazo Sports Managing Director, Mr Christophe Impens emphasises that the UWCT will cater to the ever-increasing number of people becoming involved in cycling around the globe: "The objective of both the UCI and the UWCT Corporation is to welcome high quality mass cycling events from all over the world. UWCT participants can discover the most beautiful regions in the world while racing in a fantastic competition that is accessible to everyone. This combination of competition and tourism will ensure the long-term success of the UWCT".
http://www.uciworldcyclingtour.com/
The Gran Fondo Amy Gillett in Australia (September 18, 2011) and Pietermaritzburg in South Africa (October 29-30, 2011) will be the first two events where you can qualify for the Masters and Amateur World Championships in 2012.
а это этапчик этого года:
Gruyère Cycling Tour - Saturday and Sunday 27/28th August 2011
