UCI changes rules to exclude amateur team who won gold at Track Cycling World Cup

I read an article recently which argues that cycling at the top level is in decline these days.

No wonder is it with those dicks in charge.

Just a stupid move, on my own I wouldn't be listened to so I've signed the petition the 'Beat Team' boys have set up.

Maybe what the pros should do is not particpate in the next race till UCI changes the rule back to where it was and allow amateur riders who have proven themselves to ride...LOL!!!!  I seriously doubt the pros would have enough backbone to do that, besides that they don't want to take the chance of being beaten by a low budget team.  So as always nothing will happen and the amateurs, as always, get the short end of the stick and now have to struggle even harder than before to try to break into the pro ranks.  Pro racing has always been difficult to break into, now it's worse.

time we had a change in ruling bodies of a lot of sports these institutions don't own sports 

time we had a change in ruling bodies of a lot of sports these institutions don't own sports 

time we had a change in ruling bodies of a lot of sports these institutions don't own sports 

time we had a change in ruling bodies of a lot of sports these institutions don't own sports 

time we had a change in ruling bodies of a lot of sports these institutions don't own sports 

It's nuts. Not just less teams allowed to take part at World Cups, but half the number of events with a vague promise to look at setting up a winter series (that might also be national squads only?) 

It does make you wonder where the UCI’s interests lie. As the body that is responsible for the growth and promotion of cycle sport, changing the rules to exclude people who provide challenge to the establishment and intrigue for the spectators seems illogical. Until, you realise that they are meeting their own vested interests and those of their sponsors. 

Everyone agrees that we need rules. Otherwise we would see some outrageous and probably dangerous bikes on the tracks but Huub Wattbike’s equipment is within the rules so why not consider using the “rules” to encourage these maverick thinkers rather than exclude them. Everyone loves a tryer and if smaller teams are able to do things differently and get results then thats what the sport and spectators want. If the national teams are getting shown up, they need to look at what they’re doing and change or adapt. That way we might see some real advances in times and what could be achieved. 

its not just losing trade teams, reducing to 3 track world cups and not least swapping to a Summer schedule will rob us of riders like Jolien D'hoore & Elia Viviani who will probably have to switch to being road racers only in the future as the track events will clash with their road teams races, and nations will have to pick riders to secure World championship and Olympic qualification across fewer races, so wont want to have one off riders guesting for them, also means its not going to be as easy for the next generation of riders to come through

I really dont think you could come up with a more comprehensive way to completely ruin track cycling than by these changes.

Ah yes, UEFA and EU are just the same... Only last month I was voting for representatives in the UEFA election. Oh no, hang on, I wasn’t. It was the EU election. 

Anyway, back to the point - yes, the UCI seems determined to hamper innovation. Was it at the behest of Stuart Street CC? Any evidence for that or just general moaning?

Yep, it’s like Verbruggen vs Obree all over again.

it was probably at the (back room) request of the Manchester Track Club management, after all,  Huub boys have been making the national squad look a bit silly really...

plus, there's all the track club staffs salaries to think about.

(cynical, moi ?)

Time for Derbados to declare independence.

Same old vindictive small-minded UCI, unchanged from the days when stopping Graeme Obree was its mission. 

Huub-Wattbike’s story made the national news here, creating positive interest in cycling and specifically in track racing, so that goes against the UCI’s role of destroying interest and participation in the sport. Hence they had to act. 

Whilst some may scoff and not all will agree with Rapha’s manifesto for cycling, this story perfectly illustrates why such a publication has come about in response to declining interest and participation in racing. 

Well done to Huub-Wattbike and I wish them further success. Innovators and champions. 

Similar in many fields: can't have amateurs beating professionals, the sponsors don't like it.

UCI cant have amateurs in a shoestring budget, beating multi million pounds national teams. It does seem a spiteful decision.