The 2005 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup began on 10th April in Cyprus, with the marathon round.  On 24th April, it will be followed by the marathon in Spa Francorchamps, on 1st May by the rounds in Garda Trentino (marathon) and Vigo (downhill and 4-cross), then, a week later, in Madrid (cross-country).

Exceptionally, this year, the first UCI mountain bike rankings will be published in the week following the races in Madrid.  The UCI is in fact in the process of putting the finishing touches to its brand new programme for registering and publishing results and calculating rankings.  The aim of this operation is to make the system totally reliable and even more effective.  With a view to developing mountain biking, it is vital to give the utmost importance to UCI rankings.  The work currently being done will contribute to that.

The chosen date for the launch, immediately after the second cross-country round and shortly after the second marathon race, limits the disadvantages of this delayed publication.  UCI rankings will become even more advantageous when they are no longer confused with the result of the first race.

                                                                                                                                                                       UCI Press Service