21 races apply for 2017 WT

[MatParker117]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-says-21-races-have-applied-for-2017-worldtour-status/

Some of the races:

Tour of Qatar, Strade Bianche, the Presidential Tour of Turkey, Tre Valli Varesine, the end of season Abu Dhabi Tour

Cali and Ride London have been rumoured as well, wouldn't rule out the last weekend either.

 

[Alexandre B.]

“These events will now be assessed throughout the 2016 season based on a range of criteria including technical quality of the races, their role in the strategic development and promotion of the UCI WorldTour, and the narrative of the season,” the UCI’s press release reads.

What about the local popularity criteria?

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I think that of the races on that list, I think that Tre Valli Varesine deserves it the most which its rich history. However, I'm not sure it would do the race much good to be promoted to WT. Tour of Qatar and Strade Bianche should be promoted to WT, however. And then I would like to add Giro dell'Emilia to the list of WT-races as well.

 

[Armchair cyclist]

Have they really given up on trying to persuade ASO to hold back on their threat to downgrade? Do they believe that they will never want to return to WT level?

If they accept a slew of new events, then they will have to address the issue, that I don't believe has been raised (or at least not made public) before about the length of that licence and termination of it.

Too many races at WT status, with compulsory participation, would have a serious knock on effect on WT teams' participation in the elective races at the next level. It will also increase the reluctant participation of teams obliged to participate with neither commercial interest nor riders suitably specialised, and so ultimately a less motivated and competitive squad than the Pro Contis or Conti team that would otherwise have taken that slot.

 

[Wallenquist]

Adding Qatar and Strade Bianche would be no problem, same for adding one classic between Worlds (traditional date) and Lombary, could be Emilia, Piemonte, Milano Torino etc. The problem starts when too many races would like to join. Turkey ? Clashes with Romandie. California ? What about all those US Conti teams that always doing well in that race ? Wont be nice to scratch them. Varsine and London ? Fine if it wont clash with other WT events. Abu Dhabi ? Whatever for sure it would be a lot easier to clash WT races with ASO races but it would be an open war then, not sure if Uci really want that.

Also what is interesting is that there are strong rumours about Qatar joining but it's ASO race for now.

 

[Escarabajo]

I am dying to watch a race in Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. You know, because of the cycling fans in those countries.

 

[yaco]

Armchair Cyclist hit the nail on the head. Will add two things - Have too many WT races then teams will need 30 riders - Doubt there is money to cover this contingency - It's impossible for Strade Bianchi to be a WT race unless they change the date - Look at 2016 - Strade Bianche 5th Marcj, Paris-Nice 6th to 13th March and Tirreno Adriatico 09th to15 March - Three world tour races in the same week and two are week long stage races.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Not really, you only need 2 teams there, because you can send the same people from Strade Bianche to Tirreno-Adriatico. No different really to País Vasco being on at the same time as the cobbled classics.

That said, races like Abu Dhabi becoming WT? Ugh, basically Tour of Beijing but even less interesting and with even fewer fans. Count me out.

Brian Cookson wants to be Bernie Ecclestone, it seems.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I have no problem with one of the middle east stage races in February gets WT-status. Preferably Oman, but Qatar is also quite a good race.

 

[Nirvana]

I think that with one or two between Dubai, Qatar and Oman (there is a hole in february for WT) some spring classic like Omloop, Strade Bianche, Dwars, Brabantse, a couple of week long stage race like California, Wallonie, Burgos/Arctic Race and a couple of fall classic like Milano-Torino, Paris-Tours or Emilia will be perfect the 2017 WT.

 

[jaylew]

Re:

I have no problem with one of the middle east stage races in February gets WT-status. Preferably Oman, but Qatar is also quite a good race.

I don't either, really, particularly if it's Oman. It's not like one would be picked OVER some long standing race with tradition.

 

[yaco]

Re:

Not really, you only need 2 teams there, because you can send the same people from Strade Bianche to Tirreno-Adriatico. No different really to País Vasco being on at the same time as the cobbled classics.

That said, races like Abu Dhabi becoming WT? Ugh, basically Tour of Beijing but even less interesting and with even fewer fans. Count me out.

Brian Cookson wants to be Bernie Ecclestone, it seems.

Teams average 25 to 27 riders - Teams often have 4 or 4 riders injured at one time - Then you are done to 20 to 22 riders and then you have 16 riders logged into TA and PN - Yes some riders will do Strade and TA but it gives teams little flexibility - Strade will need to change dates to be WT.

 

[Eshnar]

Re: Re:

Teams average 25 to 27 riders - Teams often have 4 or 4 riders injured at one time - Then you are done to 20 to 22 riders and then you have 16 riders logged into TA and PN - Yes some riders will do Strade and TA but it gives teams little flexibility - Strade will need to change dates to be WT.

You talk as if teams didn't already manage to field a full lineup for all those events together...
They do it every year. All those WT teams invited to Strade Bianche. And yes, most riders who race SB go to TA. Pretty much all of them actually, besides those who get injured during SB ofc.

 

[luckyboy]

News articles like the one below seem to imply that 21 races total have applied for 2017 WT, but with all the names like Strade Bianche, Turkey, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Tre Valli rumoured surely it is 21 races that have applied to move up to WT, right? Because there are 20 WT races when you take out the ASO races and I can't imagine that many other races are looking to drop out of the WT...

The fact there are currently only 21 candidates for the 2017 WorldTour could be an indication of the absence of ASO’s races.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/strade-bianche-and-abu-dhabi-tour-hoping-for-worldtour-status-in-2017/

 

[Nirvana]

Yes, probably there are 21 new races that have applied for 2017.
Next year we could have something like 30/35 races in WT.