New World Calendar

The UCI's dream of creating a ProTour for professional cycle spot was dealt a devastating blow by the decision of the Tour de France organisers, the ASO, to organise outside the UCI (World governing body of cycling) and the subsequent decision by ProTour Teams to leave the Tour.

Since then many have wondered what the UCI would do next and how they would rebuild their tattered authority in what was seen as a battle for control of cycle racing.

Now the UCI have layed out their plan and the creation of 'UCI World Calendar'.

This is the UCI official statement -

Following negotiations over recent weeks between the UCI and EPA (Editions Philippe Amaury, the owner of ASO and Société du Tour de France) under the auspices of the IOC, the UCI President Mr Pat McQuaid today in Beijing presented the plan for the future of professional cycling.

Pat McQuaid thanked the IOC President Mr Jacques Rogge for the attention that he has given to the situation in the world of cycling, as well as Mr Jean-Claude Killy, IOC member, for his contribution to the discussions as a mediator.

The main features of the plan that the UCI unveiled today have come about from discussions between the parties involved and incorporate a number of measures that meet the expectations of all the players in professional cycling.

Pat McQuaid expressed the desire that this new initiative, founded on the will of EPA to recognise the UCI as the International Federation governing the sport of cycling within the Olympic Movement, would allow the conflict that has affected cycling in recent years to draw to a close.

The key elements of the plan for the future of professional cycling are the following:
the creation of a "UCI World Calendar" in 2009, including the monument events as well as those of the UCI ProTour;
the creation of individual and team classifications based on the "UCI World Calendar" in 2009;
the definition of the participation rights of teams on the basis of the classifications (17 teams of 9 riders or 18 teams of 8 riders: to be decided) from 2011.

The UCI confirms that it recognises ASO’s exclusive rights of ownership and operation as well as those of all other organisers.

The UCI also accepts that the right to participate in the Tour de France in 2009-2010 shall be governed by the agreement signed by the teams and ASO on 18 June.

This reorganisation has been the subject of intense discussion with the teams and organisers with the view to establishing a common platform to allow cycling to return to a period of stability and serenity.

In more general terms, these modifications are in line with the reform of road cycling launched by the UCI in 2005 in that they favour the development of the sport of cycling to the benefit of all National Federations around the world.

The unanimous backing of this plan will also allow the parties involved to put an end to the various proceedings under way; this will allow the complete reintegration of the French Cycling Federation within the auspices of the UCI.

Pat McQuaid declared: "I am confident of the fact that this plan will give rise to a fruitful and constructive collaboration that is in the best interests of professional road cycling. In this regard, and with the respect of the UCI's democratic structures, I know that I can rely on the indispensable contribution of all our stakeholders to relaunch and maintain a dialogue on the future of professional cycling."