The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announced today, that the inaugural 2017 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships will take place this November in Chengdu, China.
With a population of 14.5 million, Chengdu is one of the three most populated cities in Western China, making the Capital of southwestern China’s Sichuan province one of the most important cultural, economic, financial, commercial, transportation, and communication centers in Western China.
A new concept, taking cycling to the heart of big cities around the globe, the UCI Urban Cycling World Championships combine Mountain Bike Eliminator (XCE), Trials and BMX Freestyle Park. The world’s best specialists in the three disciplines will vie for the iconic rainbow jersey and the title of UCI World Champion. These first ever UCI Urban World Championships signify notable progress for the disciplines’ calendar and exposure and will enable our athletes to benefit from a landmark event supported by a significant effort in terms of prize money.
Raced over short and technical courses in heats of four riders at a time, XCE is a mixture of cross-country Olympic, for the type of course, and four-cross, for the format. BMX Freestyle Park is practised in skateparks, where freestylers are judged on tricks and their respective difficulties, but also on originality and style. Trials is about getting over obstacles grouped into sections, without setting foot on the ground or any part of the bicycle (except the wheels) touching the ground. Such faults incur penalties.
The Trials competition will open the five-day show, running from November 8 to November 11, while the BMX Freestyle Park will take place over the following, concluding with the Mountain Bike Eliminator.
UCI President Brian Cookson said: “It is the UCI’s mission to invest in and develop cycling disciplines that complement our traditional disciplines and help shape the future of our sport. Trials, BMX Freestyle Park and Mountain Bike Eliminator are three spectacular and already popular disciplines that adapt perfectly to urban settings and provide a thrilling show for spectators. The UCI Urban Cycling World Championships will provide them with an ideal showcase to help them grow even further and reach a still wider audience.”
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