What is Union Cycliste Internationale?
[[File:Union Cycliste Internationale logo.svg|thumbnail]] [[File:World Cycling Centre - Aigle Switzerland.jpg|thumbnail]] The '''International Cycling Union''' (''Union Cycliste'' ''Internationale'' or the '''UCI''') is the governing body of [[Cycle sport|bicycle racing]] in the world. It sets out rules for bicycle design, and types of races. The UCI also issues licences to racing teams which gives them permission to compete in one of the ranks or ''tours''. == The Tour grades == The ProTour is the highest grade, the 20 best teams are in the ''[[UCI ProTour]]'', and all of the races are in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|title=2007 UCI ProTour Races|url=http://www.uciprotour.com/templates/UCI/UCI2/layout.asp?MenuId=MjE4NA|accessdate=2007-08-31|archive-date=2007-08-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813001138/http://www.uciprotour.com/templates/UCI/UCI2/layout.asp?MenuId=MjE4NA|url-status=dead}}</ref> There are also five Continental Circuits (one each for [[Europe]], [[Africa]], [[Oceania]], [[Asia]], and [[the Americas]]). They are the next highest grade after the UCI ProTour. The circuits were designed by UCI to encourage cycle racing outside the European continent, where it is most popular and where the three Grand Tour stage races [[Vuelta Ciclista a España]], [[Tour de France]] and the [[Giro d'Italia]] are run. The Grand Tours are part of the ProTour == References == <references/> {{sport-stub}} [[Category:Cycle races]]