Kosovo among four new members of International Cycling Union

Iceland, Kosovo, Mauritania and Vanuatu have become members of the UCI ©UCI

Iceland, Kosovo, Mauritania and Vanuatu have been granted full membership of the International Cycling Union (UCI) following the governing body’s Congress in Richmond, Virginia where the Road World Championships are currently being held.

The four additions take the UCI’s membership up to 185 while the decision was part of a momentous week for Kosovo, who have also become a member of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the Air Sports Federation (FAI).

UCI membership had been declared as a specific aim of the Kosovo Olympic Committee by the body's President, Besim Hasani, ever since the Balkan Republic's membership of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was unanimously approved at December's Extraordinary IOC Session in Monte Carlo.

"Following the recognition of National Olympic Committee (NOC) Kosovo by the IOC, all IFs are granting recognition to Kosovo National Federations and i would like to deliver my great appreciation for International Federations (IF) that are giving the opportunity to athletes of Kosovo to compete equally with others after 23 years of isolation," Hasani told insidethegames.

"I can say that athletes of Kosovo are very happy for this chance and they will never not let IFs and spectators down."

Kosovo National Olympic Committee President Besim Hasani expressed his appreciation at the country being granted membership of three more governing bodies ©Getty Images

“I’d like to extend a very warm welcome to our newest National Federations from Iceland, Kosovo, Mauritania, and Vanuatu, taking our membership up to 185,” said UCI President Brian Cookson.

“As we move forward it is vital that we take our sport to new frontiers, embrace new cultures and provide better access to cycling opportunities and equipment for everyone, especially young people - providing fertile ground for our sport to prosper among a new generation of cyclists.”

A new member of the governing body’s Ethics Commission were also revealed with France’s Bernard Foucher, a Court of Arbitration for Sport arbitrator, joining New Zealand’s Richard Leggat, Canada’s John Tolkamp and The Netherlands' Marcel Wintels.

Additionally Norwegian Cycling Federation President, Harald Tiedemann Hansen, was confirmed as a new member of the UCI Management Committee as a replacement for Peder Perdersen, who died earlier this year.

The Congress also saw Cookson also detailed his aims for the final two years of his four-year term as President, having taken up the role in 2013.

A Women’s WorldTour, due to begin next March, is due to take over from the Women’s Road World Cup and will comprise of a combination of one-day and stage races throughout the year.

Brian Cookson outlined his priorities for the second half of his tenure as UCI President ©Getty Images

In total 17 events are due to be held across Europe, the United States and China, with the WorldTour set to see the number of competition days for women increasing by more than 60 per cent than the existing women’s circuit.

Cookson also vowed to continue to integrate the new discipline of BMX Freestyle Park onto the UCI calendar while the creation of an Urban Cycling World Championships is aimed for 2017.

Supporting major events hosts to create a legacy of greater participation in cycling and securing enhanced media rights deals for their flagship competitions, as well as trying to enhance men’s professional cycling and restore credibility to the sport.

It follows the announcement of a raft of changes to men’s cycling earlier in the week, including longer WorldTour licenses and mandatory anti-doping controls, as well as potentially adding new races to the calendar.

“We have made significant progress over the past two years in terms of rebuilding trust and faith in the UCI and cycling, and in growing the sport globally," Cookson added.

“Everyone in the cycling family can feel the growing confidence our sport is now seeing from broadcasters and other stakeholders in light of the progress we are making to rebuild trust.

“There is much to look forward to as I focus on delivering the remainder of my Manifesto and creating an environment where cycling can flourish and prosper.”