Road cycling’s amateur riders are spoilt for choice this season, with the UCI World Cycling Tour (UWCT) featuring more events on more continents. In just its second year, the UWCT is growing from 7 to 13 qualifying events, with the 2012 final taking place in Pietermaritzburg in August. The South African township has also hosted a qualifier event.
Last year’s UWCT was billed ‘a resounding success, with more than 750 amateurs from 30 countries qualifying for the Final in Stavelot, Belgium, where they raced for the title of World Champion in their respective age-groups and the right to wear the rainbow jersey.’
Some riders have already qualified for the 2012 final at one of the two events that have already taken place since the 2011 Final in Stavelot. Amy’s Gran Fondo (AUS) took place in September, in Australia, followed by the Msunduzi Road Challenge in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, in October. The UWCT returns to Australia in March for the Perth qualifier event.
The complete 2012 UWCT calendar is as follows:
- 18 September 2011: Amy’s Gran Fondo in Lorne, Australia
- 29-30 October 2011: Msunduzi Road Challenge in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
- 23-25 March 2012: Perth, Australia
- 25-27 May 2012: Cretan Cycling Challenge in Chania, Greece
- 2 June 2012: Deutschland Grand Prix in Bad Saulgau, Germany
- 8-10 June 2012: Franja BTC City Museeuw CI in Ljubljana, Slovenia
- 24 June 2012: Sankt Pölten Radmarathon in Sankt Pölten, Austria
- 29 June – 1 July 2012: UWCT Copenhagen in Copenhagen, Denmark
- 7 July 2012: Val d’Aran Cycling Tour in Vielha, Spain
- 22 July 2012: La Leggendaria Charly Gaul in Trento, Italy
- 23-26th August 2012: UWCT Final in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Packages to the final in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, can soon be booked via UCI Travel – www.uci-travel.com.
