According to an official press release from cycling's governing body, the UCI, the forthcoming Tour de Pologne will see the introduction of a series of new initiatives, which may be applied to additional WorldTour events next year.

The press release from the UCI reads as follows:

"The 2013 Tour de Pologne will be the first UCI WorldTour event to introduce a pilot project designed to highlight the excitement and attractiveness of each day of racing.

The project introduces a new system of bonus points for riders who win a series of contests organised during each day of racing.

These may include intermediate sprints, and mountain pass or hill contests. At the end of each stage a general “Race Appeal” classification will be established by adding up the points awarded. The top riders of this classification will obtain time bonuses on the event’s general classification.

The number of riders per team will be six as opposed to the usual eight.

“This contest will add extra spice to each day of racing,” explained UCI President Pat McQuaid. “The riders will have added motivation at certain points throughout the day, and the spectators will be treated to some exciting and spectacular competitions.”

This new project was approved by the Professional Cycling Council in February this year. The project was put forward by a special working group made up of representatives from cycling’s main stakeholders, including teams.

“The Tour de Pologne has always been aware of new trends and open to innovation. This is why with great enthusiasm and interest we embrace all those solutions which, as in this case, can contribute to rendering the race even more spectacular and exciting, with the aim of attracting increasing numbers of people - not only experts but especially the general public, to the splendid world of cycling," explains the Director for the Tour de Pologne, Czeslaw Lang. 

After the 2013 Tour de Pologne (July 27th – August 3rd), it is envisaged to introduce the concept at other UCI WorldTour events in 2014."

The press release seems to beg more questions than it answers, though. 

Will the reduction of riders from eight to six apply to all or just to some of the WorldTour events of 2014? Will the number of teams participating in 2014 WorldTour events remain unchanged in a bid to avoid crashes as a result of huge pelotons riding on narrow streets or will it be increased? If the number of riders on each team is reduced, does that mean that the race organizers will have an additional number of wildcards to grant? Or will the number of WorldTour teams be enhanced?

Will the "series of contests organised during each day of racing" be the same in all WorldTour events? To what degree will the general classification or the KOM competition in, say, the Giro d'Italia be influenced by this new "Race Appeal" contest?

The UCI press release, sadly, fails to adress these and other important questions.