ProTour and Historical calendars merged
2011 will see the launch of the UCI WorldTour, a merger of the ProTour calendar and the Historical calendar, which will include the three Grand Tours as well as the other events organised by same groups, such as the Giro di Lombardia by RCS Sport (organisers
of the Giro d’Italia). Those races, as well as the Tour de France, the Vuelta a Espana and others, will combine with the ProTour events and take on the same participation criteria as those events, under the WorldTour moniker.
“As a result of this decision, from the beginning of the 2011 season, all the world’s biggest races, which from now on make up the ‘UCI World Tour’, will be subject to the same participation rules,” read a statement released by the UCI.
“The UCI ProTeams, the number of which will be limited to 18, will have the right to (and be obliged to) participate in all the UCI World Tour events, whereas organisers will be able to invite UCI Professional Continental Teams of their choice for the remaining
places.”
The WorldTour will include every event that currently contributes to the UCI World Rankings, and the world’s top 18 teams will participate in every event of the calendar. The organisers of the individual races can fill any remaining spots with their choice
of Pro Continental teams. The three Grand Tours had originally refused to participle in the ProTour calendar, complaining that UCI was trying to take control of the races.
“Although the conditions of registration for UCI ProTeams remain unchanged (sporting value as well as ethical, financial and administrative criteria), the sporting value will now be calculated each year according to a precise points system.”
The ProTour council met in Melbourne, Australia on Thursday, the second day of the World Championships, and reached an agreement on the WorldTour. They also finalized the creation of the Athlete’s Commission, which will allow cyclists a more democratic say
in the decision-making process, and increased the criteria for holding a riders’ agent certificate.
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