Cyclist

Cyclists are cyclists who take part in cycling races on the road , on the track , in cyclocross - or on mountain bikes .

Professional racing cyclist and amateur status

The distinction between professionals and amateurs that used to be common no longer exists since the introduction of the standard license in the 1990s. In any case, top amateurs often practiced cycling as so-called state amateurs factually professionally.

However, the term professional cycling continues to exist in road cycling indirectly through the various licenses for cycling teams issued by the UCI World Cycling Association : Licenses for UCI WorldTeams and UCI Professional Continental Teams are - in addition to meeting other requirements - only awarded to teams that have their riders in accordance with the UCI- Pay guidelines. However, it is entirely compatible with the UCI regulations for riders from a UCI Continental Team , UCI Women's Team or a cycling club to practice cycling professionally. With the introduction of the standard license it is no longer possible to speak of an amateur license or an amateur class .

Professional road cyclists are organized into teams that are sponsored by companies . The drivers wear racing clothing with the inscription of the sponsor, who bears the costs of the team (in full or in part, if there are several sponsors) - and thus also the salaries of the drivers. This is done via an employment or service contract with the team's operating company. Cross pros are often contractually bound to professional road cycling teams.

The interests of the professional cyclists in UCI ProTeams and UCI Professional Teams are represented by the “driver union ” Cyclistes Professionnels Associés (CPA) . The CPA also tries to represent female cyclists; The Cyclists' Alliance was founded as a specialized association .

Team structures are increasingly found in track cycling and mountain biking. The riders of the UCI Track Teams and UCI MTB Teams are also contractually bound to the operating companies.

Driver categories

According to the rules of the UCI, racing cyclists are no longer divided into the categories "professional" and "amateur", but basically according to age (the rule-specific age is the difference between the calendar year and the year of birth), team membership and, as an exception, the choice of the rider :

Male classes

Students U11: drivers under 11 years of age, but at least 8 years old
Students under 13: drivers under 13 years of age
Students under 15: drivers under 15 years of age
Youth U17: drivers under 17 years of age
Juniors U19 (MJ): Riders aged 17 and 18
U23 (MU): drivers from 19 to 22 years
Elite (ME): drivers over 22 years of age
Masters (MM) : Riders from the age of 30 who are not members of a team registered with the UCI and who choose this status

Female classes

Schoolgirls U11: drivers under 11 years of age, but at least 8 years old
Students under 13: drivers under 13 years of age
School girls U15: drivers under 15 years of age
Youth: drivers under 17 years of age
Juniors (WJ): female drivers aged 17 and 18
U23 (WU): female drivers from 19 to 22 years
Elite (WE): female drivers over 22 years of age
Masters (WM): female riders from the age of 30 who are not members of a team registered with the UCI and who choose this status

Web links

Commons : Cyclist - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Wiktionary: cyclist - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Explanation of the class divisions and categories in cycling - international / Germany

References and comments

↑ The UCI regulations for road cycling differentiate between B. respect to UCI ProTeams in 2.15.111 and 2.15.115bis between "employed" ( " workers ") and "self-employed" ( " self ").
↑ UCI regulations, there 1.1.034ff Categories of Riders. (pdf) uci.ch, August 3, 2016, accessed on August 18, 2016 (English).
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g According to the UCI regulations, the division of drivers under 17 years of age is the responsibility of the national associations. The age group classification by the Association of German Cyclists is used here.
↑ ^a ^b In the first year in the racing class, the 9th year of life must be completed.
↑ Traditionally, this class is also referred to with the French term "Espoirs" (German: hopes). Men U23 drivers are generally allowed to start in races of the men's elite.
↑ ^a ^b Elite and U23 riders who are not members of a UCI ProTeam, UCI Professional Continental Team or UCI Continental Team are classified by the BDR in the road area at national level in the men's A , B and -C classes . A distinction must be made between belonging to the respective age group and participation in races: U23 drivers take part in the races of the elite. In terms of performance classes A, B and C, they will be treated equally with the elite drivers in the BDR area.
↑ ^a ^b Until a rule change in 2016, all riders of a UCI WorldTeam belonged to the elite class, cf. Amendments to regulations with effect on 02/01/2016. (pdf) uci.ch, accessed on August 18, 2016 (English).
↑ ^a ^b In the area of the Association of German Cyclists, this age group is called “senior citizens”. There is a further differentiation according to year of birth.
↑ ^a ^b The minimum age for the Masters Rail World Championships is 35, cf. UCI regulations, there 3.9.001ff Categories of Riders. (pdf) uci.ch, June 4, 2016, accessed on August 18, 2016 (English).

[1] The UCI regulations for road cycling differentiate between B. respect to UCI ProTeams in 2.15.111 and 2.15.115bis between "employed" ( " workers ") and "self-employed" ( " self ").

[uci2016-2] UCI regulations, there 1.1.034ff Categories of Riders. (pdf) uci.ch, August 3, 2016, accessed on August 18, 2016 (English).

[juv-3] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g According to the UCI regulations, the division of drivers under 17 years of age is the responsibility of the national associations. The age group classification by the Association of German Cyclists is used here.

[u11-4] In the first year in the racing class, the 9th year of life must be completed.

[5] Traditionally, this class is also referred to with the French term "Espoirs" (German: hopes). Men U23 drivers are generally allowed to start in races of the men's elite.

[abc-6] Elite and U23 riders who are not members of a UCI ProTeam, UCI Professional Continental Team or UCI Continental Team are classified by the BDR in the road area at national level in the men's A , B and -C classes . A distinction must be made between belonging to the respective age group and participation in races: U23 drivers take part in the races of the elite. In terms of performance classes A, B and C, they will be treated equally with the elite drivers in the BDR area.

[uci2015-7] Until a rule change in 2016, all riders of a UCI WorldTeam belonged to the elite class, cf. Amendments to regulations with effect on 02/01/2016. (pdf) uci.ch, accessed on August 18, 2016 (English).

[sen-8] In the area of the Association of German Cyclists, this age group is called “senior citizens”. There is a further differentiation according to year of birth.

[track-9] The minimum age for the Masters Rail World Championships is 35, cf. UCI regulations, there 3.9.001ff Categories of Riders. (pdf) uci.ch, June 4, 2016, accessed on August 18, 2016 (English).