Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Sunday, November 27, 2016

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2017 Tour de France | 2017 Giro d'Italia

War does not determine who is right, only who is left. - attributed to Bertrand Russell

Latest completed racing:

• October 9 - 16: World Road Cycling Championships
• October 20-23: Abu Dhabi Tour
• October 23: Chrono des Nations
• October 23: Japan Cup
• October 22-30: Tour of Hainan

UCI pushes back against race organizers' plans to reduce team sizes

Yesterday (November 25), we reported that the three biggest race orgainsers, Amaury Sports organization (Tour de France, Vuelta a España and other important races), RCS Sport (Giro d'Italia) and Flanders Classics decided to reduce the number of riders per team for their upcoming season races.

The UCI is clearly not happy with this and put out the following release:

"Following recent statements, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) wishes to clarify the current position regarding team sizes. Whilst a potential reduction in team sizes may reflect a view held by some stakeholders, including some race organisers, any changes to the regulations governing men's professional road cycling must be agreed by the Professional Cycling Council (PCC), on which the race organisers are fully represented.

"This subject was discussed at the last PCC meeting in November 2016, and it was agreed to consider in detail the implications of such reduction over the coming months, with no change for 2017."

BMC racing team awarded two-year UCI WorldTour license

Yesterday we reported that the UCI had confirmed 17 of 18 ProTour teams for 2017. Here is BMC's release following their confirmation:

26 November, 2016, Santa Rosa, California (USA): BMC Racing Team has been awarded a two-year UCI WorldTour licence for the 2017 and 2018 seasons, General Manager Jim Ochowicz today confirmed.

Ochowicz said the UCI's decision to grant the team a two-year UCI WorldTour licence is a step in the right direction for BMC Racing Team and cycling.

"It plays well into our long term strategy and vision in that this is the longest extension that has been available for UCI WorldTour licensing to any of the teams. So we're very happy to be one of the teams chosen to retain UCI WorldTour status for the next two years. We're looking at the long game, and with the two-year licence granted everything is now in order and we can focus on our 2017 season and beyond," Ochowicz said.

"For our existing partners it's an opportunity to be able to leverage their investment at the highest level in cycling and with a multiple year extension it lets us grow across the board. It gives confidence to the athletes, and confidence to our existing partners and any potential partners who may be looking to invest in BMC Racing Team."

BMC Racing Team has operated at the UCI WorldTour level since 2011, following three years at the UCI Professional Continental level and the inaugural year as a UCI Continental Team.

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