One of the most commonly asked questions of our hard working editorial team at Cyclingnews is, "What do the weird numbers e.g. 1.1, 2.UWT, CM etc. beside the race names mean?"
The UCI has classification criteria that it applies to races in all disciplines, with a classification convention that reflects the type (one day or stage race); and relative importance of the race with respect to UCI points, prize money, size of the field and number of teams from each teams division that can start.
There are some designations that apply to all disciplines for events that include all rider categories (elite, under-23, junior) or multiple disciplines.
There are three major designations for road: WorldTour events such as the three Grand Tours, the Pro Series and the Class 1 or 2 events.
The value before the decimal in the race class designates whether the event is a one-day race (1) or a stage race (2).
The second indicates what type of race it is or its series: UWT for men's WorldTour, WWT for women's WorldTour. Pro for ProSeries, 1 and 2 are class 1 and 2 and can apply to elite men, elite women, under-23 and junior events.
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Rider categories:
ME = elite men
WE = elite women
MU = under-23 men
WU = under-23 women
MJ = junior men
WJ = junior women
Because under-23 men can compete in 1.2 or 2.2 ranked races, the events specifically for that category have a U tacked onto the end. There is also an under-23 Nations' Cup series that gets NCup at the end.
Road race classes
1.UWT = Men's WorldTour one-day race
1.WWT = Women's WorldTour one-day race
2.UWT = Men's WorldTour stage race
2.WWT = Women's WorldTour stage race
1.Pro = ProSeries one-day race
2.Pro = ProSeries one-day race
1.1 = Class 1 one-day race
2.1 = Class 1 stage race
1.2 = Class 2 one-day race
2.2 = Class 2 stage race
1.1U/2.1U/1.2U/2.2U = under-23 only version of above
1.NCup = Nations' Cup one-day race
2.NCup = Nations' Cup stage race
Mountain Bike race classes
Riders during the Nove Mesto round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series (Image credit: UCI Mountain Bike World Series)
Mountain biking has even more abbreviations because of the different types of races.
Mountain bike race abbreviations
XCO = Cross-country Olympic
XCM = Cross-country marathon
XCP = Cross-country point-to-point
XCC = Cross-country short track
XCE = Cross-country eliminator
XCT = Cross-country time trial
XCR = Cross-country team relay
XCS = Cross-country stage race
DHI = Downhill individual
DHM = Downhill marathon
4X = Four cross
EDR / EDR-E = Enduro or Enduro eBike
PUM = Pump track
SNO = Snow Bike
E-MTB = E-Mountain Bike
MTB race classes
CDM = World Cup
SHC = Hors (above) category stage race
S1 = Class 1 stage race
S2 = Class 2 stage race
HC = Above category one-day race
C1 = Class 1 one-day race
C2 = Class 2 one-day race
C3 = Class 3 one-day race
Track race classes
Track events can have many races but the overall event can also be of a certain class. In addition to the universal designations like World Championships, there is a Nations' Cup (CDN) and Track Champions League.
CDN = Nations' Cup
CL1 = Class 1
CL2 = Class 2
TCL = Track Champions League
Cyclocross race classes
Tom Pidcock's superman move (Image credit: SWpix.com)
There are only three designations for non-championship cyclocross races, the World Cup being the highest designation.
Laura Weislo is a Cyclingnews veteran of 20 years. Having joined in 2006, Laura extensively covered the Operacion Puerto doping scandal, the years-long conflict between the UCI and the Tour de France organisers ASO over the creation of the WorldTour, and the downfall of Lance Armstrong and his lifetime ban for doping. As Managing Editor, Laura coordinates coverage for North American events and global news.
