Andalucía Bike Race presented by Caja Rural Jaén increases to Hors Catégorie

The UCI bestow the race the highest distinction in cycling • It will be the first stage race in Spain with this category • The next edition will coincide with the tenth anniversary

On September 27 the officialization by the International Cycling Union (UCI) notified to the organisation of Andalucía Bike Race presented by Caja Rural Jaén that it had been bestow, the highest distinction in a cycling event, the Hors Catégorie.

After years of work, dedication and effort the reward has come with the confirmation of the increase of category from XCS 1 to Hors Catégorie. From the next edition, which will be the tenth, Andalucía Bike Race presented by Caja Rural Jaén will be Hors Catégorie (SHC), bringing about some changes for both the organization and the riders that we will detail later.

It implies recognition of both the upward trajectory of the race, as well as the quality it offers both at the organizational, protocol and competitive level or its national and international media outreach. In addition, this distinction means that, for the first time, Spain has proof of this size in the international biker scene. A recognition that so far will share with a select group of outstanding mountain biking stage races such as the Absa Cape Epic (South Africa), the Afxentia Stage Race (Cyprus) and the CIMTB (Brazil).

Xavier Bartrolí, president of Octagon Esedos, assess this category as: “It is a pride for us that the UCI trusts in the work carried out for nine consecutive years. This distinction means that it can be the ‘Champions League’ of the Mountain Bike such as La Vuelta España, the Giro de Italia or the Tour de France. We will be in the highest category, and fully justify the effort we have made during these years", Bartrolí said.

In addition to this historic distinction for our country, this category ascent will mean another series of changes that will be specific for both the organization and the Mountain Bikers. As for those who belong to the participants, there will be an increase in ICU points at stake. For example, instead of earning 120 points per victory, it will be 160. In addition, the positions awarded by those points will also change. Until now, there were only points for the first 34 and now it goes up to 40. In addition to UCI points, there will also be an increase in cash prizes.

The next edition of Andalucía Bike Race presented by Caja Rural Jaén will inaugurate its new category the last week of February 2020, thus being one of the first Mountain Bike events on the national calendar.

Andalucía Bike Race presented by Caja Rural Jaén in its history has brought together more than 5,300 participants of 56 different nationalities having traveled 3,735 total kilometers and exceeded 96,400 meters of climbing (as ascending almost eleven times Everest), with a third of its participants foreign.

We will shortly announce the opening date for registration of Andalucía Bike Race presented by Caja Rural Jaén 2020, which will be held from February 25 to March 1, 2020.