A guide to understanding the UCI Point System for road cycling in 2023. How do riders get points and how do teams keep their world tour license.
The UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) point system is a system used to rank professional road cycling teams and riders based on their performance in UCI-sanctioned races. The UCI points system has a significant impact on racing because it determines which teams and riders are eligible to participate in the most prestigious races, such as the Tour de France.
The UCI points system is based on a points scale, with different point values assigned to different races based on their importance and the level of competition. For example, a win at the Tour de France is worth many more points than a win at a smaller race. Points are also awarded for other high placements in a race, such as finishing in the top 10 or top 20.
Teams and riders accumulate points throughout the season, and the top-ranked teams and riders are invited to participate in the most prestigious races. This creates a competitive environment in which teams and riders are motivated to perform at their best in order to earn points and secure a spot in the top-level races.
The UCI points system also has an impact on the overall structure of professional cycling. Teams that earn a high number of points are able to secure sponsorships and funding, which allows them to attract top riders and continue to compete at a high level. Conversely, teams and riders who struggle to earn points may find it difficult to secure the resources they need to compete at the highest levels of the sport.
How the points are distrubited
In the UCI points system, points are awarded to riders based on their finishing position in a race. The number of points awarded for each position varies depending on the level of the race.
In the highest level races, known as “World Tour” events, the points scale is as follows:
- 1st place: 200 points
- 2nd place: 180 points
- 3rd place: 160 points
- 4th place: 140 points
- 5th place: 120 points
- 6th place: 100 points
- 7th place: 80 points
- 8th place: 60 points
- 9th place: 40 points
- 10th place: 20 points
In “ProSeries” events (the second highest level of races), the points scale is slightly lower:
- 1st place: 150 points
- 2nd place: 135 points
- 3rd place: 120 points
- 4th place: 105 points
- 5th place: 90 points
- 6th place: 75 points
- 7th place: 60 points
- 8th place: 45 points
- 9th place: 30 points
- 10th place: 15 points
In all other UCI-sanctioned races, the points scale is as follows:
- 1st place: 100 points
- 2nd place: 80 points
- 3rd place: 60 points
- 4th place: 40 points
- 5th place: 20 points
In addition to points awarded for finishing positions, points are also awarded for intermediate sprints, mountain climbs, and other achievements within a race. These points are known as “performance points” and are awarded on a different scale depending on the level of the race.
Overall, the UCI points system is designed to reward riders for their performances in UCI-sanctioned races, with the highest number of points going to the top finishers in the most prestigious events.
Maintaining the World Tour License
In the UCI World Tour, the top level of professional road cycling, teams are required to earn a certain number of points in order to maintain their World Tour license. A World Tour license allows a team to participate in all World Tour events and is considered a mark of a top-level team.
The number of points required for a team to maintain its World Tour license varies from year to year and is based on the team’s performance in the previous year. In general, teams are required to earn a certain number of points in order to maintain their license, with a higher number of points required for newer teams or teams that have struggled to perform in the past.
If a team fails to earn the required number of points in a given year, it risks losing its World Tour license. This can have significant consequences for the team, as it would no longer be eligible to participate in the most prestigious events and may struggle to attract sponsors and funding.
In order to avoid losing their World Tour license, teams must perform well in races and earn as many points as possible. This creates a competitive environment in which teams are motivated to field strong riders and perform at their best in order to maintain their place at the top of the sport.
In summary, the UCI points system plays a significant role in professional road cycling by determining which teams and riders are eligible to participate in the most prestigious races and by shaping the overall structure of the sport. It creates a competitive environment that drives teams and riders to perform at their best in order to earn points and secure their place at the top of the sport.