UCI council approves limited mid-season team transfers, rules for world TTT championships

Pro riders would be able to switch teams in the first half of August under certain conditions under a rule change approved by the UCI’s Professional Cycling Council Wednesday in Maastricht, Netherlands.

The rule change — which still requires approval by the UCI’s Management Committee — would allow riders to change teams between August 1 and October 20 under an agreement accepted by the rider and both teams. Otherwise, team transfers would be allowed starting in October. The rule change would apply to ProTeams and Pro Continental teams and take effect immediately if approved by the committee, which meets Thursday and Friday in Maastricht.

Other news from the council meeting:

• The council approved rules for the team time trial to be held at the UCI professional road championships in 2012 in Limburg, Netherlands. The new event, announced last September, will be contested by ProTeams, Pro Continental, Continental and UCI-registered Womens teams.
• The council proposed barring teams from using a rider’s results to contribute to its UCI Sporting Criteria ranking if the rider has been suspended for at least two years for a doping violation. The rider’s points would not contribute to a team’s ranking for two years following the end of his suspension.
• The council approved a date change for the Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian-San Sebastian in 2012 in order to avoid a clash with the road race at the London Olympic Games. The race will take place on Tuesday August 14, 2012.
• The council supported adding the GP E3-Harelbeke to the WorldTour calendar for 2012, on condition that the race is moved from its current Saturday spot to Friday. The organizers will apply to the UCI Licences Commission for this.