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UCI Race Classification

Jun 5, 2011
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UCI World Tour Races all have a classification pressumably determined by UCI.
I have been unable to find out through the UCI website what criteria are used.
From time to time races are re-classified apparently without explanation other than perhaps that the organisers had requested an upgrade.
The Tour of Dubai has been announced with a classification of 2.1 why?
Can anyone throw any light on this for me?
 
I believe there are several factors. First of all it's based on the wish of the organizer based on what type of race they want to arganize. The various classifications have different rules when it comes to prize money, what types of teams can get invited etc.

2.1 is typically the lowest professional category so that is a natural category for a new race like Tour of Dubai. The 2.2 category also allows amateur teams while excluding World Tour teams and it is, I believe, less regulated than category 2.1 and upward.

Other than what the organizers want it is also up to the UCI to decide what races get categorized on the higher levels. Here things like history plays a certain role where traditional races that are viewed as more prestigious get categorized higher. In the past few years we have also seen political motivations behind categorizations where the will to make the sport more global has given higher categorization to races outside of Europe.

Another thing that plays a role is how well run the event is. If an event is poorly run then that might be a reason for the UCI to downgrade the event for example.
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UCI_race_classifications

The wiki has a decent table listing who can get the invites for each classification.

There is a subtle but significant difference between the .1 and .HC levels.


.1 and .2 are night and day apart, not least because you have to be at least .1 to get WT team riding.


Why did Dubai get .1 rather than .2 ?
So that it is part of the larger 'tour of the Middle East' for the WT teams.

They can send a squad (+reserves) for Oman, Qatar and Dubai.
 
Yeh it's basically money but the team eligibility plays a big part.

If you're a regional race that wants as many local teams as possible to be involved then it's not realistic to be anything other than non-UCI or 2.2. If are willing to sacrifice them for "Professionals" or teams from afar then 2.1 is what you go for provided you have the money and organisational capability. Also it would be more or less pointless to have a .2 in the Middle East given there is no base of Continental teams or even strong amateur teams. They'd have to come from afar and if you're going to get outsiders in you should really get the pros. So only 2.1+ or non-UCI makes sense, and as its only aim is to draw visitors and impress locals you have to bring the pros in.

Many "expansion" races seem to begin as 2.1 as that is enough to get pro teams in, and step up to 2.HC as they want to get a little more serious (Turkey, California, Qatar, Oman). Probably more a matter of them finding their feet first rather than the UCI restricting them.

Basically the only time the UCI gets in the way is for WT, where positions are dictated by the calendar, so you need serious bribes.

If you read the UCI race guidelines I think you will find some organisational standards which may differ between the categories, which is where a lot of the $$$ comes in.
 
Ferminal said:
Also it would be more or less pointless to have a .2 in the Middle East given there is no base of Continental teams or even strong amateur teams. They'd have to come from afar and if you're going to get outsiders in you should really get the pros. So only 2.1+ or non-UCI makes sense, and as its only aim is to draw visitors and impress locals you have to bring the pros in.

There are .2 races in the Middle East:

http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/tour.asp?tourid=2510
http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/tour.asp?tourid=2511

And they seemed to have worked pretty well with the best local rider winning one of them.
 

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