The International Cycling Union is embarking on a reform of the track. The UCI had already announced the unification of distances between men and women, particularly in pursuit (read here).
The international federation will also simplify the UCI track rankings. There will be an endurance classification which will compile the Omnium, scratch, points race and elimination, and a sprint classification which will bring together individual speed and keirin. The rankings for the individual pursuit and the kilometer – the latter very little contested outside the Championships – disappear.
In total, only five classifications will remain, namely endurance, sprint, American, team pursuit and team speed.
The individual and nation rankings are maintained but the UCI team rankings are deleted.
The consequence of the disappearance of the pursuit and kilometer rankings will be felt in the participation in the World Championship for these two disciplines. There will no longer be quotas to participate. They will be open to all countries and even to runners without points. For the kilometer and the individual pursuit, it feels a bit like the last lap bell.
On the other hand, the quota for the World Championship keirin tournament will increase from 24 to 30 runners, or as many as in speed.
