Mounting disquiet about preferential treatment of multi-discipline, star athletes by the UCI at the Mountain Bike World Championships turned quickly to a formal rebuke as a number of the competitors at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships penned a letter outlining their concerns over the late decision.
The written statement issued by athletes late Friday was in response to rule changes which moved Mathieu van der Poel and Peter Sagan, who haven’t earned any mountain bike UCI points this season, from last-row grid start positions in Saturday’s cross-country race to fifth row positions.
The change came as a rule created for World Cup races, across mountain bike and cyclocross disciplines, was adapted at the last minute for the MTB World Championships, setting off a storm of reactions. Riders were particularly disturbed by the last minute nature of the decision, which has the potential to have an impact beyond results on the day, with potential implications for the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
“It’s great to have big names from different disciplines in our sport and we can’t wait to race against them. But we are really not happy with the way the UCI is treating our discipline by changing the rules regarding starting positions a day before the race,” the statement read.
“The point right now is not whether the rule being applied is fair, unfair or appropriate – that’s a topic for another day. What matters is the manner and timing in which the UCI applied and enforced this rule. And the consequences that follow for individual riders and teams with quota positions for the Olympic Games. At the moment it is not only about contesting the world championships, but also about the Olympic starting positions that are being fought for together.”
UCI riders representatives Rebecca McConnell and Maxime Marotte were the lead signatories on the joint statement, which was also signed by a long list of key names in mountain biking, including Nino Schurter, Jolanda Neff, Anne Terpstra, Mathias Flückiger and Jens Schuermans. It was also shared on social media by Sven Nys, two-time cyclocross World Champion and the manager of trade team Baloise Trek Lions.
“It is clear that the UCI contradicts itself in applying the rule,” the statement said. “Hours before the start of the World Championship is not an appropriate time to selectively search for rules and we therefore express our deep disappointment and frustration at this situation caused by the UCI.”
The official…
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