Bennett wants 2.1 ranked event to gain higher status
Responding to the publication of the UCI’s calendar for 2014, the race director of the Tour of Britain has complained to the UCI over the maintaining of the current 2.1 status for the event.
The race has been pushing hard to be upgraded but after ten editions at the 2.1 level, it is still waiting to be elevated.
In contrast, race director Mick Bennett has pointed out that the Tour of Norway has moved from 2.1 to 2.HC. Three editions of that have been held thus far.
Bennett claims that a request was lodged to the UCI, but that this was unsuccessful. “An upgrade to the 2.HC level had once again been requested by SweetSpot [the race organisers] from the UCI via British Cycling for next year’s edition, which will take place from the 7th to 14th September.
“However organisers were disappointed to learn, via the publication of the 2014 UCI Europe Tour calendar, that the application had been unsuccessful with no explanation provided by the UCI.”
He said that SweetSpot had contacted both the UCI and British Cycling in order to request an explanation, but had not received a response. He also claimed that there had been two years of a ‘continued lack of communication’
Many of the world’s top teams participate in the race and, citing what he said was a decade of ‘continued growth and development,’ plus global live television for two years, Bennett argues that an upgrade is justified.
He said that if a move to 2.HC was permitted, more of the world’s top teams could take part, more UCI points would be allocated and the prize fund would increase.
Citing UCI regulation 2.1.005, he said that UK-registered Continental teams plus Great Britain’s national team would still be able to take part in the event.
The 2014 UCI Europe Tour calendar lists thirteen 2.HC races, with the Tour of Norway being the newest addition.
Bradley Wiggins (Sky) was the winner of this year’s Tour of Britain.