New UCI races in 2024 show international growth of cycling
Races introduced in Brazil, Malaysia, Jamaica and elsewhere will provide a boost to the sport's globalisation
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With the road cycling world slowly beginning to creep out of its long, long winter hibernation, it’s time to start looking at what 2024 will bring. One thing is clear, there will be a number of new races to enjoy from smaller nations.
How does a small cycling nation grow in the sport? Good coaching, teams and equipment are all important. Perhaps the most important factor however is the volume and quality of accessible racing. Without good racing riders don’t improve, and they can’t exhibit their talents to those in the higher levels of the sport who can give them the opportunities they need.
In 2023, I reported that an unusually high number of brand new races had been launched, many of them with the intention of helping smaller nations to qualify a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics. I questioned whether these new races would be one-hit-wonders, or would they remain in the future and spark the beginnings oexpanded race calendars in these countries?
Early signs suggest the latter. 2024 will see the start of several new UCI races in nations such as Indonesia, Jamaica and Tunisia.
New races give boost to globalisation of cycling
The UCI is beginning to release its full calendar for the 2024 season. It is never quite released all at one time, but several new races have been added and others return after a long hiatus.
The new events include a brand new men’s race in the Caribbean, the Jamaica International Cycling Classic. The three-day 2.2 stage race will be held on the 5th - 7th of April. It is the first-ever UCI race in Jamaica. This is a significant step for cycling in the region, which has shown tremendous growth in the last few years.
Staying on that side of the Atlantic, for the first time since 2015 the Tour do Rio will be held as a UCI 2.2 race on the 4th - 8th of October. It follows up on the success of three new 1.2 races held for the first time in October 2023. These three events will once again be held, but now as pre-cursors to the Tour do Rio.
There are an explosion of new events to add for women’s cycling in El Salvador in March. The women’s Vuelta a El Salvador and GP El Salvador return for the first time since 2014 and three new one-day races are added as well. Significantly, all of these events will be held at .1 level. Smart teams looking for UCI points should be heading to El Salvador.
Turkey added the most new races to the 2023 calendar and they are at it again this year. The Tour of Mersin, Tour of Routhe Salvation and GP Soganli(men and women) are introduced to a schedule that now includes an impressive fifteen men’s and four women’s UCI races over the year. The late-September Tour of Istanbul, won by Gustav Wang in its first edition last season, is upgraded to 2.1 level.
Another returning race is the Tour de Tunisie, a 2.2 race to be held over five stages in April. It was last run in 2017. Also in north Africa, Algeria builds on its racing programme with the GP Sonatrach, Grand Prix Sonelgaz and Grand Prix Oranie; three 1.2 races held on back-to-back days in September. There’s also the Grand Prix de la Ville d'Annaba in May, just after the Tour d’Algerie. Algeria’s neighbours Libya will also host their first UCI race since 2010 when the Tour of Libya returns in June.
May of 2023 hosted four quite controversial races in Uzbekistan. It was the context of the nation’s alleged attempts to fabricate its national championships and time-trial cheating. The four one-day races disappear for 2024 and a replaced in May by the men’s and women’s three stage Tour of Bostonliq - the mountainous region that held two of the four events in 2023.
South East Asia’s international racing scene has struggled greatly since the COVID pandemic. Last year showed signs of renewal, but in 2024 it looks like the scene is once again ready to thrive. In Thailand, the Bueng Si Fai International Road Race has its first edition in March, the 2.2 Tour of Borneo returns to Malaysia in August for the first time since 2015 and the Tour of Indonesia is also back. The Jelajah Cycling Series Minangkabau and Surakarta are two brand new 1.2 men’s races being held in Indonesia and the first edition of Le Tour de Femina Malaysia in February/March gives a much needed injection of international racing for women’s cycling in the region.
Finally, more racing is also to be included for women in the Chinese UCI schedule. The first-ever Tour of Wenzhou adds to the end-of-season racing as a two-day 2.2 race. It’s position just before the Tours of Chonming Island and Guangxi should attract a quality international field.
The introduction of these international races will each be a boost for the sport of cycling in these nations. Riders will get to compete against higher-level competition, they will learn valuable lessons and others will be inspired to race.
However, there is an imbalance to note here. All but five of the races mentioned are just for men, two of the others include a men’s and women’s race. Although it’s pleasing to see more opportunity in these new and returning events for riders who have little opportunity, it’s disappointing to see the continuing trend of gender inequality in cycling.
Other news and stories
How Ashleigh Moolman Pasio is using virtual cycling to change the narrative for African girls (Cycling Weekly)
Jamaica’s Llori Sharpe has signed for Legion of Los Angeles
Race Round-up
The Vuelta a Bramón, a traditional warm-up race to the Vuelta al Táchira, was won by three-time Táchira champion Roniel Campos. The 2024 Vuelta al Táchira kicks off on the 14th of January.
Naveen John has won his fourth Indian national TT championship.
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Great write-up as always Dan!