Longer Parcours=Lower UCI Rating

From today's CyclingNews:

This year the 83rd edition of the Paris-Bruxelles classic will be run on a
shortened parcours, but organiser Pascal Demol hopes for typically exciting
racing thanks to a strong line up of top one-day riders. The race downgraded
by the UCI last year from a 1.1 event to a 1.2, primarily because of an
excessively long parcours. Scheduled for Saturday, September 13,
Paris-Bruxelles will total 222.5 kilometres, starting as usual in Soissons,
France, to the northeast of Paris.

Demol is eager to regain UCI 1.1 status for his event, and although
typically a sprinter's race, the Côte du Mont Saint-Roch with 45km to go
should help liven up the finale. "The parcours is certainly easier this
year," Demol told La Dernière Heure, "but we're counting on the riders to
put on a passionate race for the fans of cycling."

Dumbass -

UCI downgraded P-B because the course was too long LAST year. It's a sanction.

That's why it is called 'easier' this time.

The long distance was a historical characteristic of this race. UCI doesn't
approve and wants all races pushed in their requirements by category.
Out of respect for what used to be a classic, they should have kept the distance
of this one. Although, as in MSR, it doesnt trigger attrition like it did some
decades ago.

Wait a minute, isn't 222 kms too long for 1.2 ? That will be 1.3 next year then.

Thanks,
B.

"B. Lafferty" schreef:

Lower as in reduced status.


I fell over the 'equation'.
as you indicated later, they are ever shortening, yet keep on losing status.

B. Lafferty wrote:
Some sample distances since WWII by decade:

1951 326km
52 295km

61 289km
62 291km

73 294km
74 287km

83 301km
84 305km

92 258km
93 251km



UCI rules on length of one-day road races:
http://www.uci.ch/english/about/rules/ch02_road.pdf

See 2.3.002.

"Van Hoorebeeck Bart" wrote in
message ...


"B. Lafferty" schreef:

Lower as in reduced status.


I fell over the 'equation'.
as you indicated later, they are ever shortening, yet keep on losing
status.


The equasion was not well stated---math is not a strength.

"Robert Chung" wrote in message news:3f4b6fb0$0$16152
UCI rules on length of one-day road races:
http://www.uci.ch/english/about/rules/ch02_road.pdf

See 2.3.002.

The maximum distance for one-day road races shall be as follows:
For events on continental calendars other than that of Europe, exemptions
may be made by the UCI
Management Committee or, for events in classes 4 and above, by the
Professional Cycling Council.
2.3.002
Category Maximum distance (km)
Juniors 140
Under 23s 180
Elite . 250 (World Cup events)
.. 230 Paris-Brussels.
.. 200 (other events)
Men: . The following races may be ridden over their traditional
distances: Milan-San Remo, Tour des Flandres, Paris-Roubaix,
Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Paris-Tours, Giro di Lombardia
Masters 150
Women:
Juniors 80
Elite 140

B. Lafferty wrote:
The maximum distance for one-day road races shall be as follows:
Elite . 250 (World Cup events)
. 230 Paris-Brussels.
. 200 (other events)
Men: . The following races may be ridden over their traditional
distances: Milan-San Remo, Tour des Flandres, Paris-Roubaix,
Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Paris-Tours, Giro di Lombardia

Right. Exceptions were made for the sake of "tradition" in the case of the
monuments. In fact, Paris-Brussels is also in its own special category.

Your table earlier about how the length of the race has decreased goes
hand-in-hand with the distance trend in the TdF:
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/rechung/temp/tdf.png