March 5/15 10:39 am - UCI Announces New Athletes Commission

Posted by Editoress on 03/5/15
 

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is pleased to announce the set-up of a reinvigorated UCI Athletes' Commission. Today's announcement is in line with a pledge made by Brian Cookson during his election campaign for more openness and transparency. In order to ensure even closer ties with the athletes, the Commission will undergo a series of changes ranging from the election method of its members, to the balance of its composition and the tasks it is required to carry out.

Each National Federation will nominate athletes from their own Federation for each of the disciplines (Road, MTB, Trials, BMX, Cyclo-cross, Track, Para-cycling and Indoor). For the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines, each Federation will nominate 2 athletes (1 male and 1 female). Commission members will then be elected by their peers via an online procedure. The composition of the Commission will be announced by the UCI in May 2015.

The Athletes' Commission will comprise 13 members, under the responsibility of a President elected by fellow members of the Commission:

• 2 members (1 male and 1 female) representing road;
• 2 members (1 male and 1 female) representing track;
• 2 members (1 male and 1 female) representing BMX;
• 2 members (1 male and 1 female) representing mountain bike;
• 2 members (1 male and 1 female) representing para-cycling;
• 1 member representing cyclo-cross;
• 1 member representing trials;
• 1 member representing indoor cycling.

The mandate of the Commission members will run until 2017. Members must be active or recently retired.

The President of the UCI Athletes' Commission will be co-opted to the UCI Management Committee, the Federation's executive body that operates under the authority of Congress.

In addition, all eight disciplines will see one of their representatives on the Athletes' Commission also serving on the corresponding Commission for their discipline.

The UCI Athletes' Commission's main objectives are:
• To improve the riders' training and racing conditions;
• To give riders the right to speak with a guarantee of being heard within the cycling family and its administration;
• To enable the UCI to obtain direct feedback from the riders;
• To reinforce the links between active or recently-retired riders and the UCI.

UCI President Brian Cookson said: "I am personally very pleased with the new birth of the Athletes' Commission. During my campaign for the UCI Presidency, I voiced my support for a major role for the athletes. By being the ones training and racing every day, they are the essence of cycling and therefore the ones best placed to give their feedback on many different issues touching our sport."

"This renewed Commission will operate as a true channel between riders and the UCI. Athletes will be able to promote their rights and duties in all disciplines while being informed of the decisions of our Federation."

"With members serving on the corresponding commission of their discipline, and a President sitting on the UCI Management Committee, the Athletes' Commission will be one of the driving forces behind our sport."