10/24/08
UCI Event Questions Answered
by Shannon Gillette
Chandler, AZ – The American Bicycle Association has been awarded the 8 UCI Continental events for North America, which will be held in conjunction with the following ABA National events
:
2008-09 UCI North American BMX Continental Calendar:
Jan. 23-25:
ABA Sooner Nationals, Guthrie, Ok. (USA)
Feb. 6-8:
ABA So Cal Nationals, Perris, Calif. (USA)
Feb. 20-22:
ABA Gator Nationals, Oldsmar, Fla. (USA)
Mar 6-8:
ABA Winter Nationals, Phoenix, Ariz. (USA)
Mar. 20-22:
ABA Super Nationals, Desoto, Texas (USA)
June 12-14:
ABA First State Nationals, Milford, Del. (USA)
June 19-21:
ABA Mid west Nationals, Rockford, Ill. (USA)
March 21:
2009 USA Cycling BMX National Championships,
Desoto, Texas
UCI events will be held on the Saturday of each of the above events with the exception of the March 20-22 Super Nationals in Desoto, TX this event will consist of a UCI event on Friday and Sunday and the USA Cycling BMX National Championships
on Saturday.
The USA Cycling BMX National Championships will be run under UCI rules and UCI classes.
However for the USA Cycling BMX National Championships the ABA will be awarding all amateur participants quadruple expert district points in addition to the USA Cycling BMX National Championships jersey to all class winners.
The UCI events will not affect any amateur riders unless they will be 17 years or older by December 31st
of 2009.
If a rider will be 17 years or older by December 31st
of 2009 they will be able to race in two classes at the UCI events which would be their current ABA class and either men or women Junior Elite or Elite. (example: 17 expert and Junior men).
Their will be no pro level competition on the UCI days, so current A Pro’s, AA Pro’s or Girl Pro’s who will not be 17 years or older by December 31st
of 2009 will not be able to race on the UCI days. (example; a 16 year old Girl Pro will not have class to race)
At all UCI events (Saturday Only) Vet pro’s will only be allowed to race in the Elite Men class.
UCI classes are as follows; (age as of December 31st
2009)
Junior Elite Men (17 and 18 year old men)
Junior Elite Women (17 and 18 year old women)
Elite Men (19 and older men)
Elite Women (19 and older women)
For amateurs who do not wish to participate in the UCI events you will be able to race in the class that you would normally race in at any ABA event.
All UCI events will consist of the following;
Friday - Pre-race (ABA Double Points)
Saturday - Day #1 National (ABA National Points for all amateurs) and (UCI points for Junior and Elite)
Sunday - Day #2 National (ABA National Points for all amateurs)
The exception to the above schedule of events is the USA Cycling BMX National Championships in Desoto, TX which will have the following schedule of events;
Friday -
Day #1 National (ABA National Points for all amateurs) and (UCI points for Junior and Elite)
Saturday - USA Cycling BMX National Championships (UCI rules and UCI classes) and (Quadruple ABA district points, all classes will receive expert points) no novice and intermediate classes for this event.
Sunday - Day #2 National (ABA National Points for all amateurs) and (UCI points for Junior and Elite)
All UCI Pro events for 2009 will run under the UCI random cadence and this will include all ABA pro events as well.
This will include A Pro, AA Pro, Vet Pro, Women Pro and Pro Cruiser.
All ABA amateurs will run under the normal ABA cadence, with the exception of the USAC National Championships which will be run under the UCI random gate.
Any amateur rider who wishes to attend the UCI World Championships must attend the USAC National Championship event in Desoto, TX and finish in the top 16 in their respective class.
If 16 riders or less sign up for any one class all riders who registered will be qualified.
If more than 16 riders are registered, only riders who qualify to the semi will be eligible for the UCI World Championships.
All Elite and Junior Elite riders must have a USAC membership.
Once a rider signs up for an Elite or Junior Elite race he/she is now designated as such and must race that level of competition at the USAC National Championships as well as the UCI World Championships.
No amateur riders will be required to purchase a USAC license unless they are qualified and plan on attending the UCI World Championships.
For an amateur rider to be eligible to compete in the USAC National Championships they must provide proof of US citizenship (birth certificate or passport).
All US BMX licenses will be honored at this event, no USAC or UCI license is required.
For team competition during UCI events a team may use a rostered rider in any of the UCI classes Junior Elite Men, Junior Elite Women, Elite Men and Elite Women
.
