Cycling’s international governing body, Union Cycliste International (UCI), has officially upgraded the 2014 Women’s White Spot Delta Road Race to a 1.2 UCI sanctioned event.
“The Corporation of Delta is very excited to have the Women’s White Spot | Delta Road Race become a UCI 1.2 sanctioned event and join the men’s race on the international cycling calendar,” said Delta Mayor Lois E. Jackson. “Delta is a community that encourages active healthy living and fair play, therefore, the inclusion of the women’s race was a natural step for us to support.”
With international sanctioning and awarding of official UCI points, the road race will draw a deeper, stronger field of top professional cyclists from all over the world to the already well attended three event Tour de Delta and the rest of the nine race BC Superweek series to be held in July 2014. UCI officials attended and closely examined last year’s race before awarding the certification.
“The Tour de Delta, along with all BC Superweek events, are committed to enhance the sport of cycling and provide the opportunity for local athletes to compete against some of the best athletes in North America and the world,” added White Spot Delta Road Race Director Mark Ernsting. “With the inclusion of the women’s race into the UCI calendar, this adds significant profile to the Tour de Delta and overall series of BC Superweek.”
In addition to top professionals, Ernsting expects more national teams to take part in an effort to earn UCI points, which are used to determine the number of entries each country gets into events like the World Championships and Olympics. Canada is among those expected to field a team.
The Tour de Delta begins the BC Superweek series by hosting three days of racing that consists of the very fast MK Delta Lands Criterium on the evening of Friday, July 4, the Brenco Criterium around an old fishing village on Saturday, July 5 and the White Spot Delta Road Race on the morning of Sunday, July 6.