Italian race threatened by new UCI classification of Belgian Semi-Classic
Cycling Sport Promotion, the organiser of the Trofeo Alfredo Binda-Cittiglio round of the World Cup, has announced that it may not organise this year’s edition of the race due to a clash in the 2014 calendar. The race is set to take place on March 30th, in Cittiglio, in the Varese province of Lombardy, north west Italy, but this is the same day as the Belgian Semi-Classic Gent-Wevelgem.
“On the same day, the Gent- Wevelgem race is to be held in Belgium,’ explained Cycling Sport Promotion president Mario Minervino, who is currently serving as Technical Area Manager for the World Championship Organising Committee in Florence, Italy. “We’re very disappointed because the UCI has not been sufficiently attentive to preserving the World Cup events. We’re not afraid of the concurrence, but we want to protect the movement. Once these Worlds are over, we’ll consider closing our World Cup experience.”
The two races have shared the date since the inaugural edition of the Women’s version of Gent-Wevelgem in 2012. Until now, however, the race has been part of the Belgian calendar, but from 2014 will have 1.2 status as part of the International Cycling Union (UCI) Elite Women’s calendar.
The Trofeo Binda has been organised in Cittiglio, the birthplace of the original Italian Campionissimo, since 1974, and has been part of the World Cup since 2008. This year’s edition was won by Elisa Longo Borghini (Hitec Products), the first Italian to win since it joined the World Cup series.
The two editions of Gent-Wevelgem have been won by Lizzie Armitstead and Kirsten Wild, but most of the big names have chosen to ride the Trofeo Binda. Minervino’s fear is that in this, and subsequent years, the – albeit fewer – UCI points on offer, along with the prestigious name of Gent-Wevelgem, will draw the big names to the Belgian race.
The number of race in the Women’s Road World Cup as just gone up to nine for 2014, should Cycling Sport Promotion decide to pull the plug on the Trofeo Binda, it could be back down to eight again very soon.