The Management Committee of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) met from 10 to 12 February in Montreux, Switzerland. This first meeting of the year had been scheduled to take place during the 2022 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Fayetteville (USA) but was moved to the shores of Lake Geneva due to restrictions imposed by the international health situation. It marked the first ordinary meeting of the newly composed UCI Management Committee, following the elections held in September 2021, which saw a significant increase in the number of women members (six women out of 18, including the UCI Vice-President, compared to just one woman member of the Management Committee at the previous elections).
Regarding road cycling, the UCI has decided to create a UCI World Champion title in the road race and individual time trial in the Women Under 23 category. This new title will be introduced at the 2022 edition of the UCI Road World Championships, which will take place in Wollongong (Australia). The two titles will be awarded at medal ceremonies during which the UCI World Champions will be presented with a rainbow jersey and the three riders on the podium with medals corresponding to their rank. As a transitional measure for the 2022, 2023 and 2024 UCI Road World Championships, for technical and logistical reasons and due to commitments already made, the women’s races will include both the Elite Women and Under 23 Women categories, and two titles will be awarded at the end of the events. From the 2025 edition, which will be held in Kigali (Rwanda), a separate event will be organised for athletes in the Women Under 23 category. The award of a UCI World Champion title in the road race and individual time trial in the Women Under 23 category is a further step towards parity between men and women in terms of sports programmes and is part of the policy implemented by the UCI in this area, which will lead, after an incremental progression, to the full attainment of this key objective for the Federation.
