Founded on 14 April 1900 in Paris, France, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) will celebrate the 125th anniversary of its creation by the Belgian, American, French, Italian and Swiss National Cycling Federations next Monday.
To mark this anniversary, the UCI is publishing a series of illustrated articles tracing its history. These will be published on the UCI website every day from today until the end of the week. This is an opportunity to look back at some of the key episodes in the International Federation's existence, to remember the personalities who have shaped it, and to highlight the most significant advances made since the beginning of the 20th century.
Much progress has been made since 1900, when the Federation comprised five members and two disciplines (road and track). Today, the UCI has 205 affiliated National Federations from five continents, and governs 11 disciplines (mountain bike, BMX Racing, BMX Freestyle, cyclo-cross, trials, indoor cycling, cycling e-sports, gravel and snow bike, in addition to the two mentioned above). With its activities also extending to cycling's societal-public dimensions (such as sustainable development, solidarity and inclusion), the UCI has become one of the world's largest sports Federations.
The first article in the series, to be published later this morning, is entitled “1900: the ICA is dead, long live the UCI”, and recounts the events of 14 April 1900, an extraordinary day during which the clash between two opposing visions of cycling gave birth to the UCI. On Tuesday 8 April, an article entitled “Cycling at the Olympic Games: an ode to the cultural diversity of the bicycle” will examine the ever-stronger links developed between cycling and the Olympic Games since the first edition of the Olympic Games of the modern era (Athens 1896). David Lappartient is the eleventh President of the UCI, but who were his 10 predecessors? The article to be published on Wednesday 9 April, “The Presidents of the Union Cycliste Internationale” lifts the veil on these personalities, all of whom have played a significant role in the life of the institution. On Thursday 10 April, an article entitled “125th anniversary of the UCI: the institution’s road to coherence and universality” will look back at several of the major developments that have marked the UCI's existence to date. Finally, on Friday 11 April, an article “125th anniversary of the UCI: from a sport of heroes to a social phenomenon” will reflect on the evolution of cycling in society.
Visit the section dedicated to the 125 years of the UCI to discover a new article on the history of the UCI every day throughout the week.
"This anniversary offers us a great opportunity to measure how far our institution and cycling have come in the last 125 years, and to pay tribute to those who have served as its President over the decades," said UCI President David Lappartient. "This history is rarely highlighted, and is worth discovering. We are delighted to serve a UCI that proudly continues its journey along the path of innovation and progress, and we work tirelessly to live up to this legacy by playing our part in shaping the future of cycling as our predecessors did before us.”