UCI

The cycling union announced Friday that non-European events must invite their regions’ top teams. For the U.S., the region is the Americas, and this means three Colombian squads may earn invites to the U.S.’s biggest races, likely displacing some U.S. teams.

After what the World’s Federation for the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) called a “fruitful” meeting with the UCI, the cycling unions released a revised approval process Friday.

PALMA DE MAJORCA, Spain (AFP) - Tour de France champion Alberto Contador feels he has been "unfairly punished" by Spain's cycling federation, which has proposed suspending him for one year for a positive doping test, his spokesman said Thursday.

The UCI on Thursday sought to clarify that a one-year ban for Alberto Contador — announced by the rider's spokesman Wednesday — is only a preliminary proposal by the Spanish Cycling Federation.

The event's lawyer, in a letter sent to the cycling bodies Thursday, said their recent move allowing top teams at National Racing Calendar criteriums — but not at road races like Battenkill — is "exclusionary and monopolistic."

You’ve probably never heard of Robbert De Kock or the World Federation for the Sporting Goods Industry, but pay attention. As the secretary general of the WFSGI, De Kock may be the man to unite the cycling industry and give it real power in its dealings with the UCI.

The UCI rocked the cycling industry in December when it announced that a new bicycle approval process would be implemented on January 1, 2011. The UCI later delayed the program by a month.

The UCI delays its bike labeling program by a month

Check out Brian Holcombe's author page.

The organizers of New York's Tour of the Battenkill are withdrawing the event's pro men's race from the UCI calendar due to sponsor difficulties — and in response to USA Cycling's decision to allow higher ranked teams to compete at National Racing Calendar criteriums, but not at NRC road races or stage races.

Switzerland’s top court has reject an appeal by Alejandro Valverde, who had sought to overturn an earlier a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling suspending him until 2012.

The Spanish cycling federation has passed the hot potato that is the Alberto Contador doping case back to the UCI and the World Anti-Doping Agenc

Unless the UCI backtracks at a meeting with team directors on Friday in Switzerland, race radio communication between riders and their team cars will be banned this season in every road race except the 27 events of the new UCI WorldTour.

Fifteen cross-country and 15 gravity teams will contest the 2011 World Cup season.

Despite recent reports of its demise, Pegasus Sports has secured enough money to save its ambitious plans to field a UCI Pro Continental team in 2011.

The UCI, in a front page editorial in the latest edition of its Velo World magazine, takes issue with Floyd Landis' charge that the organization gives favorable treatment to some cyclists.

The UCI will soon begin maintaining an online list of cycling products that comply with its rules for competition, it announced Monday.

PORTLAND, Oregon (VN) _ A meeting of cyclocross event promoters Friday could clarify next year’s unsettled domestic calendar, but the process is likely to include some heated negotiation.

Four-member panel now mulling tainted-meat argument

The International Cycling Union (UCI) today requested the Spanish National Cycling Federation (RFEC) to open disciplinary proceedings against the rider Alberto Contador. This request complies with the procedure set out by the World Anti-Doping Code as established by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

It will be up to the Spanish cycling federation to determine Contador's penalty.

Every year riders, teams, media, sponsors and UCI officials vote for the top XC, DH and 4X tracks of the World Cup season.

France's AFLD said it is once again ready to help catch dopers at the Tour de France after independent observers called for an end to its UCI spat.

The Australian squad hoping to move into the sport's top ranks did not make the provisional cut based on the UCI's sporting criteria.

The teams will be eligible to compete in the world's most prestigious events next season.

After reviewing test procedures at the 2010 Tour, the World Anti-Doping Agency recommends some changes.

'We have to be completely sure,' says UCI chief Pat McQuaid, speaking at the Tour de France route announcement.

ProTour teams will start all 26 races in new UCI World Tour for 2011. But still some confusion as the ProTour and Historic calendars merge.

UCI chief Pat McQuaid talks about the new "unified" pro calendar for 2011 and the Contador affair.

Speaking at the world championships Saturday, the UCI's Pat McQuaid said it's in cycling's interest to wrap up the case as quickly as possible.

The team is being called before a disciplinary hearing for wearing un-approved kit on the last day of the 2010 Tour de France

AG2R suspended Tadej Valjavec earlier this year after doubts about his biological passport, but the Slovenian cycling federation has refused to take any action against him.

The Milram rider retires after first denying he doped, then admitting he "made a mistake."

The UCI says it has not closed the files on five riders whose Biological Passport values were deemed suspicious last winter.

USA Cycling plans to change the calendar to reduce travel, tweak the points system and figure out how UCI Pro Continental teams can participate in national-level races.

As national cross-country champs, Georgia Gould and Todd Wells are two of 53 athletes nominated to represent the United States at the Mountain Bike World Championships in Mont Ste Anne, Quebec, September 1-5.

The Tour champion's Astana squad leads the team standings while Spain tops the national rankings.

The UCI updates its cyclocross rules to allow disc brakes, man-made sand pits, bottle hand-ups on hot days. But the organization is now drawing the line on tire width.

Alejandro Valverde has no chance of seeing a lengthy doping ban reduced by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) if he admits to doping, according to the UCI.

A drought of world-class mountain biking in the States won't happen again, as Windham Mountain, New York has signed a contract with the UCI to host a World Cup over the next three years.

UCI press release re: Alejandro Valverde suspension

The UCI has asked national federations to investigate charges against cyclists and team management who Floyd Landis has named in accusatory emails sent to officials last week.

UCI Press Release: The UCI requests inquiries

BMC Racing Team: Statement Regarding Investigation Initiated by UCI Through FFC against John Lelangue

UCI Press Release of May 25, 2010

Floyd Landis did not put his best foot forward in his presentation of assertions that many high-level riders and team staff doped or assisted riders to dope in the years 2002-2006. But does that automatically mean his claims are false?

When it comes to time trial equipment, it's 2009 all over again for most USA Cycling events this year. The racing organization announced Friday that it will enforce UCI rules on aero equipment the same way it did last year, a reversal of the policy announced in March, when it said that it would follow the UCI's recent more strict interpretation of the rules for all racers except masters.

Stefan Schumacher has withdrawn his appeal against an International Olympic Committee ruling that he committed an anti-doping rule violation during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

UCI president Pat McQuaid said Saturday that governing body will wait for the outcome of a pending appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport before seeking a worldwide ban of Caisse d'Epargne's Alejandro Valverde.

Britain and fellow track powers Germany and Australia were warned Saturday that attempts to leave weaker nations behind thanks to illegal technological advances will not be tolerated.

The UCI has filed an appeal to the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) challenging a decision by the Swiss Olympic Committee to end its doping case against 1997 Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich.

The U.S. Open of Cycling, which had been scheduled for May, and would have been a part of the USA Cycling Professional Tour, has been canceled, its organizers announced Wednesday.

Thanks to good results at the Tour Down Under and Paris-Nice, Caisse d'Epargne's Luis-Leon Sanchez leads the UCI points series.

The UCI has announced that the governing body’s anti-doping manager, Anne Gripper, will leave the post this month, citing a desire to return to her home in Australia.

The United States has the third highest number of UCI teams with 12, compared to the 14 Italian and 15 French squads.

U.S. masters racers who plunked down big bucks for Specialized Shivs just like Alberto Contador's won't have to sell them this year. USA Cycling announced Tuesday that it will follow the UCIs lead and enforce rules barring some frame shapes for any racing bearing UCI points or qualification potential — except for masters competition.

Alberto Contador isn’t happy about the UCI’s decision to ban his Specialized Shiv time trial bike on the eve of Sunday’s decisive final TT in the Volta ao Algarve.

India hosts its first professional UCI-sanctioned road race this weekend, with hopes it will showcase home-grown talent and boost public interest in two-wheel transport.

2010 will see the epic event return to the Alberta Rockies as well as the addition of UCI sanctioning.

Seventeen pro continental-registered teams will enjoy “wild card” status this, opening the door for the teams to get invites to ProTour events. Sixteen teams were confirmed Friday, with BMC already assured its “wild card” status ahead of its debut at the Tour Down Under last month.

The fines levied this week against former Giro d’Italia winner Danilo Di Luca reflect the greater latitude recent rule changes have given the UCI in handing down penalties, the governing body noted Tuesday.

Our readers weigh in on Tom Zirbel's positive and a winter warmup in Hawaii.

Just a day after successfully defending the suspension of Stefan Schumacher in the International Court of Arbitration for Sport, anti-doping officials scored a significant legal win in a Spanish courtroom.

2009 UCI Cyclocross Rankings, updated Jan. 19.

The UCI grants provisional registration to Lampre, letting the Italian team remain part of the ProTour through March.

André Greipel (Team HTC-Columbia) tops the 2010 UCI world rankings following his victory in the Tour Down Under.