Para-cycling World Cup planned

The International Cycling Union has announced plans for a Para-cycling World Cup to begin in 2010.

Three rounds of the World Cup will take place in May, June and July, in Correze, France, Segovia, Spain and Baie-Comeau, Canada, respectively.

These events will be in addition to the Para-cycling World Championships, which take place every year, except in an Olympic-Paralympic year.

Each round of the new World Cup will enable participating nations to gain qualification points for the 2011 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in Roskilde, Denmark.

Para-cycling was fully integrated with the UCI in February 2007 and a record number of competitors took part in the Beijing Paralympic Games.

UCI Para-cycling co-ordinator Chantale Philie hopes the Para-cycling World Cup is just the beginning as the sport continues to develop and has earmarked Asia and Oceania as possible future venues for a World Cup event.

"The UCI is confident that this first edition will be very successful," Philie said.

"Indeed, the series should include four events from 2011.

"The new race should be organised in Asia or Oceania, which will contribute to the universal development of the discipline."