The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has today published the list of UCI Mountain Bike Teams for 2015, including those that will obtain UCI ELITE Mountain Bike status.
In total, 130 teams have been registered for 2015. This is the highest number of teams since 2012 (132) and up nine from last year’s total of 121.
The number of nations registering at least one team is on the rise, a sign that the mountain bike discipline continues to push back geographical barriers. This year sees 33 countries registering at least one team compared with 31 countries last year and 27 in 2013. Four countries have registered a team for the first time in 2015: China, Indonesia, Iran and Israel.
Of the 130 teams registered for the 2015 season, 15 Endurance (XC) teams and 15 Gravity (DH) teams will obtain UCI ELITE Mountain Bike status. Invitations to join this higher tier of teams were issued to the top teams of a special ranking which was established on the basis of the individual UCI points won by the riders up until December 31st 2014. These points benefit the riders’ 2015 teams.
UCI ELITE Mountain Bike teams benefit from advantages such as free entry to all races on the UCI Mountain Bike International Calendar in the discipline in which the team has ELITE status, including all rounds of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano. In return, they are obliged to enter at least one rider in all rounds of the UCI MTB World Cup series. These teams have until February 26 to confirm their ELITE status and pay the corresponding fee.
UCI MTB Team Ranking: Endurance
UCI MTB Team Ranking: Gravity