The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Management Committee met the past two days at the UCI World Cycling Centre in Aigle, Switzerland, and welcomed progress made in the implementation of the UCI strategic plan. A year ago, the UCI Management Committee adopted a detailed vision and strategy to lead the development of cycling as a competitive sport and activity worldwide over the coming years.

The UCI’s strategy sees a renewed focus in growing cycling in all its forms across the world and focuses on four core principles: development, internationalisation, ethics and excellence. The complete UCI strategy is available on our website.

Following this two-day meeting, UCI President Brian Cookson said: “The first half of 2015 has been an extremely busy period with many cycling events that have been followed by passionate fans around the world.

“I was particularly delighted to see eight men riders and one woman going after a reinvigorated UCI Hour Record in the first year after we modernised its Regulations. Sarah Storey’s attempt was available exclusively on the UCI YouTube channel. Our digital platform – which now has over 140,000 subscribers – was then the place where everyone could watch the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships hosted in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands. The live coverage of the 2015 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France, even included live footage from onboard cameras for the first time ever.

“Both the 2015 UCI BMX and Mountain Bike World Cups are now well underway with athletes from around the globe battling it out before excited crowds. And we are looking forward to travelling to Richmond in a few months for what is expected to be an impressive 2015 UCI Road World Championships.

“We have also massively strengthened our fight against doping with much better relationships with anti-doping stakeholders, new rules including far-reaching sanctions for riders and teams, a more intelligent testing strategy, and the establishment of an Anti-Doping Tribunal. All of these developments have greatly contributed to rebuilding trust in our sport and the credibility of the UCI. This progress is now feeding through to all levels of cycling and confirms that we are heading in the right direction.”

The UCI Management Committee took important decisions, including the awarding of the following UCI events:

2016 Para-cycling Track World Championships to Montichiari (Italy);

2017 Para-cycling Road World Championships to Pietermaritzburg (South Africa);

2017/18 UCI Masters Track Cycling World Championships to Los Angeles (USA).

In addition, the UCI Management Committee voted the amendment of article 2.2.010 of the UCI Regulations. The article now clarifies the requirement of rider accommodation during stage races: “In all road stage races on the international calendar, the organisers must cover the subsistence expenses of the teams from the night before the start to the final day; riders must stay in the hotels provided by the organiser throughout the entire duration of the race”. The decision was made in order to reaffirm absolute fairness between all riders. The amended article comes into force immediately.

Finally, an update was provided on preparations for the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The UCI has been working in close collaboration with the Rio 2016 Organising Committee and after agreeing the route for the men’s and women’s road race earlier this year, it has been confirmed that the mountain bike course and BMX track are now under construction at the X-park at the heart of the Deodoro Olympic Park. Test events are scheduled in Rio for the Road Race (16 August 2015), BMX (3-4 October 2015), mountain bike (11 October 2015) and track (18-20 March 2016).

Looking ahead to Tokyo, the UCI Management Committee reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the best possible Olympic experience for athletes and fans.

Brian Cookson added: “I am pleased that the Rio 2016 venues for mountain biking and BMX are now under construction at the X-park at the centre of the Deodoro Olympic Park. I’m sure this will be a fantastic setting, and provide an unforgettable experience for fans and athletes. The youthful, high-octane nature of mountain bike and BMX will play a big part in creating a buzz at the park.”

The next UCI Management Committee meeting will take place in September in Richmond (USA), in conjunction with the 2015 UCI Road World Championships.