Diversity is becoming a trend in the Olympic movement. Under the leadership of the IOC, which placed it prominently among the resolutions of Agenda 2020, the international federations are following the movement. With enthusiasm for some, dragging their feet for others.
The International Cycling Union falls into the first category. She could even soon lead the pace. According to the agency Reuters, the UCI is seriously considering offering a mixed team time trial at the Paris Games in 2024.
The event was tested this year at the European Championships, held at the beginning of August in Alkmaar, the Netherlands. The Dutch won, ahead of the Germans and Italians. She is also included in the program for the 2019 Road World Championships, which begin on Sunday September 22 in Yorkshire. The national teams will be made up of three men and three women.
« The UCI would like to see how this format evolves over the next Olympic period, told Reuters a spokesperson for the international organization, chaired by Frenchman David Lappartient. We would be willing to work with the IOC to introduce this innovative event into the road cycling program at the Olympic Games. This would fit perfectly with our goal of complete gender parity at the Paris 2024 Games. We want men and women to benefit from an equal number of quotas, events and medals. »
At the 2019 Worlds, next week in Great Britain, the mixed team time trial will replace the men's event organized for seven years in the program. The teams will be made up of six runners, three men and three women. The men will go first, the women will follow. The final time will be stopped when the second female competitor crosses the finish line. Primoz Roglic, the recent winner of the Vuelta, is announced in the Slovenian team.
Asked by Reuters, the British team's coach, Andy Pink, expects a furious battle for the world title. “ The 14 km course is very hilly, strategy will play a decisive role, he explains. I find this initiative wonderful. It can be an excellent showcase for women's road cycling. The audience should love it"
In principle, the UCI has not invented anything. The International Triathlon Union (ITU) has organized mixed relay world championships since 2009. The IAAF introduced mixed events to the relay world championships. In swimming, the mixed 4x100m medley relay made its debut at the World Championships in Kazan in 4. The event is included in the program for the Tokyo 2015 Games. According to former British swimmer Rebecca Adlington, double Olympic champion at the Games from Beijing in 2020 (2008 and 400 m), it would even have become “ one of the most exciting events on the program"
But the UCI seems determined to go a little further. She is already talking about the discipline's entry into the 2024 Paris Games. Above all, its mixed team time trial is not added to the program, it has radically removed the traditional men's event from the poster. A first. The revolution is on.
