Irish cyclo-cross selection criteria for Worlds

by Offroad Commission · Published July 29, 2017 · Updated January 18, 2018

Please find below details of the selection process for Cycling Ireland license holders to compete in the 2018 UCI Cyclocross World Championships in Valkenburg, Netherlands (3-4 Feb 2018) and also the World Cup, Hoogerheide, Netherlands (28 Jan 2018). Selection takes into account a rider’s domestic and international performances throughout the season and their commitment to cyclocross. Athletes must also adhere to Cycling Ireland’s anti-doping policies.

Riders who form part of the World Championship squad, and who also wish to participate in the Hoogerheide World Cup, will fund their own travel, accommodation and additional expenses for the World Cup event up to Monday 29^th January 2018. It is not compulsory for riders who gain selection for the World Cyclocross Championships to participate in the Hoogerheide World Cup, but it is felt that riding Hoogerheide is the best preparation for the World Championships. It is understandable that riders may be subject to work or school commitments the week leading up to the Worlds. Riders participating in both events will be based with the Irish team and staff at a pre-selected location from 26^th Jan 2018 to 4^th or 5^th Feb 2018. Riders participating solely in the World Championships will arrive at the team base no later than 2^nd February 2018.

Selection Panel

All selections are made by the Cycling Ireland Off Road Commission. The team will be selected on a discretionary basis by the selection panel. The selection panel will consider riders to be competitive at this level and who would also benefit from experiencing competition at this level. The panel may select fewer riders than the maximum number permitted under UCI rules should they not meet the desired selection criteria.

The selection panel will exercise its discretion fairly and without bias in making its final decision. If a selected rider is unable to compete for any reason, substitute selections will be at the discretion of the selection panel. There is no automatic selection, nor will any performance in one event or competition be a defining factor in selecting one rider over another.

Criteria

All riders who compete for Cycling Ireland at one or more UCI C1 or C2 events and/or Cyclocross Worlds Cup between September 1^st 2017 and January 31^st 2018 will be automatically considered for selection for the 2018 Cyclocross World Championships.

When making it’s selection, the panel will consider the following factors in any order.

Junior Men

Hold a current racing licence issued by Cycling Ireland or another federation affiliated with the UCI with the nationality marked as “IRL‟.
Top three placing in 2018 Junior Men’s Irish Cyclocross Championships.
Any athlete finishing on the same lap of the winner in a World Cup CX or C1 event in season 2017/2018.
Hold 30 or more UCI Points after the 2018 National CX Championships.
National and international race performances in the period 1 September 2017 to 9 January 2018 which demonstrate evidence of a rider’s progression and development. The selection panel will take into account the age and experience of riders as well as the quality of fields in competition and the percentage of time behind the winner.
Achieve top 5 placing in one or more Junior National Trophy Cyclocross UK races or similar UCI C2 event.

U23 Men

Hold a current racing licence issued by Cycling Ireland or another federation affiliated with the UCI with the nationality marked as “IRL‟.
Top three placing (U23) in 2018 Elite Men’s Irish Cyclocross Championships.
Any athlete finishing on the same lap of the winner in a World Cup CX or C1 event in season 2017/2018.
Hold 30 or more UCI Points after the 2018 National CX Championships.
National and international race performances in the period 1 September 2017 to 9 January 2018 which demonstrate evidence of a rider’s progression and development. The selection panel will take into account the age and experience of riders as well as the quality of fields in competition and the percentage of time behind the winner.
Achieve top 3 placing (U23) in one or more National Trophy Cyclocross UK races or similar UCI C2 event.

Junior Women

Hold a current racing licence issued by Cycling Ireland or another federation affiliated with the UCI with the nationality marked as “IRL‟.
Any athlete finishing on the same lap of the winner in a World Cup CX or C1 event in season 2017/2018.
Hold 20 or more UCI Points after the 2018 National CX Championships.
National and international race performances in the period 1 September 2017 to 9 January 2018 which demonstrate evidence of a rider’s progression and development. The selection panel will take into account the age and experience of riders as well as the quality of fields in competition and the percentage of time behind the winner.
Achieve top 5 (junior) placing in one or more Women’s National Trophy Cyclocross UK races or similar C2 event.

U23 Women

Hold a current racing licence issued by Cycling Ireland or another federation affiliated with the UCI with the nationality marked as “IRL‟.
Top 5 placing in 2018 Women’s Elite Irish Cyclocross Championships.
Any athlete finishing on the same lap of the winner in a World Cup CX or C1 event in season 2017/2018.
Hold 30 or more UCI Points after the 2018 National CX Championships.
National and international race performances in the period 1 September 2017 to 9 January 2018 which demonstrate evidence of a rider’s progression and development. The selection panel will take into account the age and experience of riders as well as the quality of fields in competition and the percentage of time behind the winner.
Achieve top 3 (U23) placing in one or more Women’s National Trophy Cyclocross UK races or similar C2 event.

Elite Women

Hold a current racing licence issued by Cycling Ireland or another federation affiliated with the UCI with the nationality marked as “IRL‟.
Top three placing in 2018 Irish Elite Women’s Cyclocross Championships.
Hold 60 or more UCI Points after the 2018 National CX Championships.
Any athlete finishing on the same lap of the winner in a World Cup CX or C1 event in season 2017/2018.
National and international race performances in the period 1 September 2017 to 9 January 2018 which demonstrate evidence of a rider’s progression and development. The selection panel will take into account the age and experience of riders as well as the quality of fields in competition and the percentage of time behind the winner.
Achieve top 10 placing in one or more National Trophy Cyclocross UK races or similar UCI C2 ranked event.

Elite Men

Hold a current racing licence issued by Cycling Ireland or another federation affiliated with the UCI with the nationality marked as “IRL‟.
Any athlete finishing on the same lap of the winner in a World Cup CX or C1 event in season 2017/2018.
Top three placing in 2018 Elite Men’s Irish Cyclocross Championships.
Hold 60 or more UCI Points after the 2018 National CX Championships.
National and international race performances in the period 1 September 2017 to 9 January 2018 which demonstrate evidence of a rider’s progression and development. The selection panel will take into account the age and experience of riders as well as the quality of fields in competition and the percentage of time behind the winner.
Achieve top 10 placing in one or more National Trophy Cyclocross UK races or similar UCI C2 ranked event.

Extenuating Circumstances:

In evaluating the performances of athletes under these criteria, the Off Road Commission may consider “extenuating circumstances”, meaning a riders’ inability to attend or perform at an optimum level arising from injury or illness, travel delays, equipment failure, bereavement or personal misfortune, and/or any other factors reasonably considered by the Off Road Commission to constitute extenuating circumstances.

In the case of injury or illness, athletes will be required to provide documentation and may be asked to undergo an examination by a doctor nominated by the Off Road Commission. A decision in each case of extenuating circumstances will be made by the Off Road Commission on an individual basis.

It is the responsibility of each athlete who has indicated their wish to be considered for selection to ensure that their full contact details have been provided to the Cycling Ireland Off Road Commission to be able to communicate important information to the athlete to ensure compliance with the obligations of providing whereabouts information in accord with Anti-Doping Policy and the World Anti-Doping Code.

Any queries or for further information please email Andy Layhe (cyclocross@offroadcyclingireland.ie)