December 16, 2010 – The International Cycling Union (UCI) has today announced the 15 cross-country teams and the 15 “gravity” teams that will receive the label “UCI Elite Mountain Bike Team” for the 2011 season. UCI Elite Mountain Bike Teams will benefit from numerous advantages: notably free entry at all the UCI MTB World Cup events and all races on the UCI Mountain Bike International Calendar.

In return, the teams will be obliged to enter at least one rider in all rounds of the 2011 MTB World Cup and to display the UCI Elite Mountain Bike Team logo on their race outfits and team vehicles.

This new system should stimulate competition between the teams wishing to achieve the status of “UCI Elite Mountain Bike Team”.

Invitations to join the new higher tier of UCI registered mountain bike teams were issued to the best teams of a UCI ranking established on 27th September by adding up the UCI points of the best riders within each team. The teams then had until 10th December to confirm their interest.

All the cross-country teams contacted accepted this new statute. For the gravity (downhill and four-cross), one team refused the statute; the invitation was then issued to the 16th ranked team.

The final list of UCI Elite Mountain Bike Teams for 2011 in the ranking order is:

Endurance

– Specialized Factory Racing Team (USA)
– Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team (SUI)
– Subaru-Trek (USA)
– Multivan Merida Biking Team (GER)
– Orbea Racing Team (ESP)
– Trek World Racing (ESP)
– Team Colnago (ITA)
– Luna Pro Team (USA)
– Central Pro Team (GER)
– Cannondale Factory Racing (GER)
– Topeak Ergon Racing Team (GER)
– BH SR Suntour (FRA)
– Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team (NED)
– Rubena – Birell – Specialized Cycling Team (CZE)
– Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team (GER)

Gravity

– Scott 11 (SUI)
– Commencal (GBR)
– Yeti Cycles Races Team (USA)
– Suspension Center (SUI)
– RSP 4 Cross Racing Team (AUT)
– Santa Cruz Syndicate (USA)
– Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain (USA)
– Trek World Racing (ESP)
– Chain Reaction Cycles / Nuke Proof (GBR)
– MS Evil Racing (AUT)
– Commencal Superiders (FRA)
– Alpine Commencal (AUT)
– Lapierre International (FRA)
– Monster Energy – Specialized – Mad Catz (USA)
– Norco World Team (GBR)

Modifications to MTB Regulations

Following the results of the off-road survey (endurance and gravity) carried out by the International Cycling Union (UCI) last September and published on its website, the UCI has modified its mountain bike regulations.

To ensure that our stakeholders are informed of these modifications immediately, a document containing the changes to the regulations has been published on the UCI website. The amendments appear in red, and the original version is the English document – click HERE.

The mountain bike regulations will not be subject to any further changes as far as content is concerned; only the lay-out will be adjusted. This final version will be published in English and French on the UCI website by mid-January 2011.

The new UCI Mountain Bike Regulations come into force on 1st January 2011.