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≡ UCI CONGRESS ≡

A busy 194th Congress of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) re-elected French President David Lappartient to a third term on Thursday in Kigali (RWA) and showcased a highly successful 2024.

He ran unopposed and was elected by acclimation, and according to the UCI rules, can run for a fourth term in 2029 if the UCI Congress agrees to let him run in 2028, by a 75% majority. Said Lappartient:

“UCI Congress also saw the election of the members of the UCI Management Committee who will be key figures in the governance of cycling for the coming four years. I look forward to working with them for my third term as UCI President alongside the four UCI Vice-Presidents elected at the extraordinary session of the UCI Management Committee. Moreover, I sincerely thank the National Federations for putting their confidence in me with my election today through until 2029.”

The Congress also selected the hosts for 13 different World Championships into 2032, including:

● UCI World Championships 2031: Trentino province (ITA)

● UCI Mountain Bike World Championships 2029: Nove Mesto (CZE)
● UCI Mountain Bike World Championships 2030: Durango, Colorado (USA)

● UCI Track World Championships 2028: Asuncion (PAR)

This will be the fourth time for the Mountain Bike Worlds in the U.S. – all in Colorado – and second time for Durango. It hosted the very first Worlds in 1990, then Vail was the site in 1994 and 2001. The Purgatory Resort held the 1990 Worlds and will be the site again in 2030.

The UCI Annual Report for 2024 (previously published) was also approved, with strong finances (please note that CHF 1 = $1.25):

● CHF 70.080 million in operating revenue for 2024, compared to CHF 46.270 for 2023, thanks in part to CHF 24.756 million in IOC Paris Olympic television rights money (about $25.7 million U.S.).

● CHF 47.502 million in expenses, compared to CHF 51.277 million in 2023.

● CHF 25.908 million in surplus after some investment gains, vs. a loss of CHF 3.408 million for 2023.

It was a good year, and the UCI balance sheet has never looked better:

● Assets expanded to CHF 134.254 million, including CHF 38.716 million in cash.

● Consolidated reserves were at an all-time high at CHF 76.139 million, up from CHF 50.183 million at the end of 2023.

In terms of its competitions, the UCI gets most of its money from road racing. In 2024, competitions produced CHF 28.570 million in revenue, with road events accounting for CHF 14.576 million (51.0%), followed by Mountain Biking (CHF 4.980 million: 17.4%), then Track cycling at CHF 2.774 million (9.7%). BMX Freestyle contributed 5.4% and BMX Racing added 4.4%. There was 3.0% related to other items.

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