Shimano had a media launch for their new Ultegra Di2 electronic drivetrain in Aigle, Switzerland. The gorgeous mountain scenery, epic climbs and friendly European motorists gave enough cause in choosing Aigle for such an event. But as a bonus, it just so happens that Aigle is home to a little organization called the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
HEADQUARTERS OF WORLD CYCLING
Founded in Paris, France in 1900, the UCI was originally comprised of sporting representatives from just five nations: France, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, and the United States. Today, the UCI is made of up national cycling federations from 177 countries, representing over 1200 professional riders in all disciplines, and its headquarters employs 59 full-time employees. As the governing body for worldwide, competitve cycling in a variety of disciplines, the UCI sanctions all of the professional events we know and love, including the Tour de France, World Road and TT Championships, mountain bike world cup events, unique indoor competitions, and the World Track Championships, among others.
This is a map located outside of the headquarters' main entrance, informing visitors of the locations of the building's various facilities. Right as you enter, it's clear that the velodrome is the edifice's primary feature.
The velodrome inside UCI headquarters was constructed in 2004, and is actually a part of the World Cycling Center (WCC). Designed as a "university of cycling training and coaching," the WCC was formed in 2002 designed to help globalize the sport by providing coaching clinics and training facilities to representatives of national federations from all over the world. During my visit, junior athletes from New Zealand, South Korea, Qatar and several other countries were on hand for training sessions on the velodrome, and classroom education inside the building's various study areas and conference centers.
If you've never personally been inside a velodrome, then it's difficult to grasp the immense scale of one, particularly its banked corners. The above picture doesn't do the WCC's Olympic-grade velodrome justice. When you stand at the railing in the corners and look down, the track appears to have an almost completely vertical face.
As part of their WCC program, these two junior athletes were engaging in a rigorous training exercise that involved some serious bike handling skills and nerve: the Madison Exchange. They would start off riding together with one rider accelerating enough to eventual lap his partner. After getting just in front, the lead rider would use his momentum to "sling-shot" the second rider forward by throwing him via grasping arms. Roles reversed, they would do it all again, and they performed this suffer-fest for a half hour.
Along the outer walkway above the velodrome, there's a large display showing the current records for various event's on this particular track. The display board features chalkboard-like surfaces so that names and times can be changed when records are broken.
For comparison's sake, as well as motivation for the athletes, there's another display board that displays the current world records for equivalent track disciplines. The prestigious names on this board include Chris Hoy, Chris Boardman and Sarah Hammer, among others.
Along with the displays of track records posted on the velodrome's outermost walkway is the "Hall of Fame." This is essentially a collection of poster-size photographs of some of cycling's greatest stars from yesteryear.
My personal favorite images in the Hall of Fame were of prints from the pre-World War II era. Look closely at the right photograph above and you'll see an advertisement for a Charlie Chaplin film.
Along with a museum of old photographs, the UCI headquarters houses an impressive collection of cycling-related sculptures and paintings. This one, entitled "Le Champion," was created in 1988 by French artist Milcko Stack. It's located outside the main entrance and stands almost seven feet tall.
A series of bronze statues by Dutch sculptor Wil van der Laan are located throughout the UCI building. Each piece is approximately one- or two-feet tall.
This sculpture, another in van der Laan's series, vividly represents the juxtaposition between victory and defeat. Interestingly, I viewed these statues differently after listening to UCI President Pat McQuaid discuss the UCI's regulations on bikes and equipment: "Cycling should be a sport of athletes, and the bike should be auxiliary to the rider, not the other way around." With that in mind, take another look at van der Laan's statues. Notice that his work clearly represents what McQuaid said. There are no complete bicycles in the sculptures, and the emphasis is on the athlete.
The theme of "athletes over equipment" continues in this painting, which measures about six feet-wide by four feet-high. It's located just outside one of the top level's main conference rooms and it features such vivid colors that no snapshot could do it justice.
This painting is located near a stairwell entrance on one of the UCI's top-most floors. It stands out due to its sharp, contrasting colors and powerful imagery. I'm no expert when it comes to artwork, but I know what I like when I see it. I like this painting because it's a striking representation of the ferocity of bike racing.
THE "OTHER" CYCLING DISCIPLINES
There were several displays in the reception area and around the velodrome that showcased the wide variety of cycling competitions currently sanctioned by the UCI. I'm sure you're familiar with road, time trial and track categories, but have you ever heard of mountain bike trials? Notice the lack of a seatpost and a saddle? More than anything else, trials riding is about bike handling skills, and is growing again in popularity due to younger riders like Scotland's Danny MacAskill. Bicycle trials riding actually derived from motorcycle trials, an equally impressive display of two-wheeled finesse. Artistic Cycling may not be popular in the United States, but it's big in Eastern Europe and Asia. Its competitive format is akin to figure skating, with riders performing a myriad of tricks and stunts on a large, flat course, not unlike old-school BMX "flatland" events.
Cycle Ball is related to artistic cycling in that riders compete on a flat (usually indoor) surface and it's quite popular throughout most of Europe. Competitors mount fixed-gear and, like soccer, must work together with teammates to maneuver a call into a goal using only the bike itself or their heads.
A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN
On one of the UCI headquarters' lower floors is a library of cycling-specific literature. The collection of around 500 books encompasses such various topics as modern training methods, photography books from the Merckx era, collections of cycling journalism pieces, and even bike repair manuals. All those who work, train, and/or visit are free to peruse the library and enjoy the fine collection of reading material, but no one is allowed to take any of the books home. Many junior riders were spotted in the library area during their down time, giving themselves a very thorough education.
An in-house cafeteria provides the much needed sustenance that the WCC athletes require. There's seating area for around 100 people, as well as a buffet-style serving station for salad, fruits and vegetables. A team of chefs cook up to three unique dishes for lunch and dinner per day, ranging from pasta to meats, vegetarian entrees and even french fries (which tasted remarkably like good ol' American McDonald's fries to me).
Those at UCI headquarters as part of WCC are given a personal bike storage locker. These kennels line the perimeter of the velodrome underneath the track's main floor, and can accommodate up to three or four bikes. Those assigned a locker even have their surname and home nation's flag printed on the security door for a personalized experience.
Among the UCI headquarters' 59 full-time employees is a small team of mechanics in charge of general bike maintenance. This includes washing each and every bike after a training session in the facility's outdoor bike washing station. Notice the green wash basin in the background? Several junior track riders were spotted using the plastic bins as makeshift hot tubs to soak their tired legs after practice.
Many of the UCI headquarters' full-time employees live in or around Aigle. As such, many of them commute by bike and everyone has access to both indoor and outdoor bike racks, storage lockers and shower facilities.
Adjacent to the main building, which houses both offices and the velodrome, resides the UCI's very own BMX track. The Olympic-scale course features a 25-foot tall starting gate (it's the blue edifice in the background), as well as a separate pump track. Deep within the recesses of the UCI headquarters' lowest level is a makeshift wine cellar, complete with a large wooden dining table and cave-like walls. "This is where we make the most important business decisions, after quitting time," joked one UCI official. Along one of the walls is a large, wooden display case. On its shelves sit several metal pitchers, each engraved with the name of a top financial donor to UCI's various programs. It's a trophy case, so to speak, showcasing the generosity and passion that is true of all cycling fans.
During my visit, UCI President Pat McQuaid gave a stirring presentation about the UCI's history, present state, and its plans for the future. "My own personal goal for the UCI is to continue to globalize the sport," said McQuaid. He was also quite candid in discussing the origins of the UCI's rules and regulations for bikes and equipment: "It all stems from the Lugano charter, which was created in 1996, when the UCI set up a study on equipment of the time. They came away with a very humanist approach in that they believed cycling should always be contested by athletes on as equal equipment as possible. While we understand that the current regulations were created in a philosophical way, we still feel today that the sport should be kept in that framework. It's all about the athletes." While there has been, and probably always will be, come criticism of the UCI's equipment regulations, there can be no denying the fact that Pat McQuaid is passionate about cycling and is dedicated to his mission of globalizing the sport.
|