Top-level meeting in Europe yields new rules by Ari Cheren 

The UCI - cycling's global governing body - announced today several changes to the rules of world cup racing that have significant impact on professional racers and members of the racing industry as a whole. Each year the UCI's two most influential bodies sit down to evaluate the sport of mountain biking, and institute changes deemed necessary. One body, comprised of elected officers, rider representatives and UCI staff, meets to devise the recommended changes, then proposes those changes to another body for official implementation.

The process begins with the Mountain Bike Commission, which met earlier this season in conjunction with the XC finals in Lausanne and came up with a set of recommendations for the 2001 season. Then the UCI Management Committee reviewed the recommendations and adopted some - putting them in the rulebook for the following season.  Today the UCI released the results of that Management Committee's meeting, which was held just three days ago in Plouay, France. Here are the resulting changes for next season.

Note: Today we're discussing changes to the DOWNHILL/DUAL circuit. We will publish the new cross-country rules on Friday.

UCI Venue Change:

1) "The UCI have awarded a triple round of the Tissot/UCI World Cup (Cross Country, Downhill and Dual World Cup) to Leysin (SUI), the venue which successfully hosted the World Cup Downhill and Dual finals this year. The event is scheduled for August 4 and 5, 2001, the week before Kaprun (AUT) hosts its first ever triple event. Leysin replaces Cortina (ITA) on the calendar."

UCI Rule Change: A) "All international Downhill and Dual events are now open to athletes in their 16th year of age. Previously athletes this age were only permitted to race the World Downhill Championships."

UCI Rule Change: B) "The optimum race length for Dual racing has also been modified, but this time it has been increased to allow for more race passing opportunities and a fuller race program. The duration of the races will now be between 30 and 60 seconds, with the optimum at 40 seconds, as opposed to this year where they were between 20 and 45 seconds with the optimum at 30 seconds."

UCI Rule Change: C) "Under a new rule for Downhill World Cup racing, the top 10 women and top 20 men in the semi final results will receive World Cup points. The semi finals will take one a whole new meaning, and not just be a formality for the top riders, and will give the spectators two top level races in one day."

UCI Rule Change: D) "All 8 rounds will count towards the overall World Cup rankings, for Cross Country, Dual and Downhill competitions, unlike the Olympic year where Cross Country riders got to have one throw out result."

The UCI Management Committee has instituted new rules for next season's cross-country circuit. Those changes, announced Oct. 12th, are the result of the committee's meeting on the 9th and reflect recommendations made by the Mountain Bike Commission. Changes to the Dual/Downhill season can be found in a separate story below, while these changes apply to the XC racers and industry.

UCI Rule: A) "Cross Country race times have been reduced in some categories to provide slightly shorter race events, and more compact race weekends." 

UCI Rule: B) "For World Cup Cross Country events there is no longer field maximums, or obligatory qualification races. With the 80% rule (where riders who fall more 80% of the leaders' lap time behind the leader are withdrawn) there is little concern about the large fields creating problems for the leading riders. Large fields, as in Madrid in 1999 where 190 riders started, make an impressive spectacle and provide all riders with a chance to race the final."

UCI Rule: C) "Under a new rule, a time trial event may be held on the day before each World Cup Cross Country which is open to all riders entered in that relevant World Cup race. The time trial will carry E2 points. Each rider is to ride one lap of the main Cross Country loop, against the clock, in a start order that is created with the highest number going first, and the lowest number (for example number 1) going last. The start order for the World Cup event of the next day will be determined by the results of the time trial. Certain protections exist for the top riders, but they will still need to do the time trial. The first rider to be called to the front line of the World Cup Cross Country will be the rider who recorded the fastest lap in the Time Trial. The points awarded at each round will be maintained throughout the series to award an overall leader's jersey for the Time Trial, after each event. This leaders' jersey must be worn throughout the same season, in the Time Trial events."

UCI Rule: D) "All 8 rounds will count towards the overall World Cup rankings, for Cross Country, Dual and Downhill competitions, unlike the Olympic year where Cross Country riders got to have one throw out result."