Katerina Nash (bronze in the Elite Women) and Simon Zahner (ninth in the Elite Men) may not be leaving Bieles with rainbow jerseys, but both had outstanding rides in tough conditions at the 2017 Cyclocross World Championships, and now have another title to add to their crowded palmarés. Both have been elected to the UCI Athletes Commission for the sport of cyclocross.
In a democratic election in which only World Championships racers can vote, Katerina Nash won big over Sophie de Boer, Katie Compton and Marianne Vos with a whopping 38.6% of the vote, exacting a bit of revenge over her fellow cycling legend who finished one step higher than her on the podium at Worlds.
Katerina Nash leads the chase of Vos and Cant up the tricky off-camber climb. 2017 UCI Cyclocross World Championships, Bieles, Luxembourg. © M. Hilger / Cyclocross Magazine
Nash could be the perfect candidate, with in-depth experience racing and living in Europe and the U.S., and can speak with perspective from racing in countries where cyclocross is largely a participation-based sport and others where it’s predominantly a spectator sport. As a two-sport Olympian, she can also bring her Winter Olympics perspective in case the UCI seriously pursues Olympic aspirations for the sport of cyclocross.
The Swiss Zahner might crack a smile knowing he finally beat retired legend and ultra-popular Sven Nys to an important finish line, but it was almost a photo finish with just a 1.2% difference. And this time, there is numerical proof that Nys did not gift the win and no discussion of illegal votes.
Simon Zahner had a strong ride to finish ninth in the Elite Men but comes home with a UCI title. 2017 UCI Cyclocross World Championships, Bieles, Luxembourg. © C. Jobb / Cyclocross Magazine
See the full press release below. Stay tuned to our 2017 Cyclocross World Championships coverage on our Worlds page here for more photos, video interviews, bike profiles and continuing coverage from Bieles, Luxembourg.
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is pleased to announce that Katerina Nash (Czech Republic) and Simon Zahner (Switzerland) have been elected to represent cyclo-cross on the UCI Athletes’ Commission, after a vote held during the 2017 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships this weekend in Bieles, Luxembourg.
Nash and Zahner were chosen from a field of nine candidates – five men and four women – by athletes participating in the UCI Elite World Championships.
Amongst the women’s candidates, Nash obtained 38,6% of the votes, while Zahner achieved 33% for men. Participation rate has been of 82,2%.
Members of the Commission are elected with a four-year mandate running from the UCI Congress in 2017 to the Congress in 2021.
The election comes as part of the renewal of all UCI Commissions in 2017.
This year, the UCI has taken the decision to increase the representation of its various disciplines on the Athletes’ Commission by modifying its electoral system.
This new voting system will see the UCI Athletes’ Commission grow from 13 to 16 members, with a perfect Men/Women balance for each of the eight disciplines.
In line with the election method of the Athletes’ Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which elects its members at each Olympic Games, elections of the two representatives from each discipline will take place every four years at the UCI World Championships of the relevant discipline.
The mission of the Commission is:
- Presenting the UCI Management Committee with its wide-ranging considerations in order to improve the role of athletes in all disciplines;
- Promoting/improving the respect and rights of athletes in all forms of cycling and in all disciplines;
- Promoting ethics and all fair play rules inherent to the practice of cycling at all levels;
- Providing a direct link with the UCI Management Committee for major events;
- Informing athletes of the range of professional training available to them during and after their sporting careers;
- Acting as ambassadors and role models for all disciplines and at all
According to the Commission’s terms of reference, the President of the Athletes’ Commission is elected by his/her peers and is co-opted onto the UCI Management Committee, the executive body of the Federation which operates under the authority of the Congress. In addition, one representative on the Athletes’ Commission from each discipline automatically becomes a member of the Commission of his/her discipline, and therefore represents the athletes on that Commission.
The renewal of the Athletes’ Commission, with wider representation of disciplines, comes a year after the Commission was overhauled – one of the key commitments of Brian Cookson, since taking up the UCI Presidency in 2013.
| Men | Number of votes | Percentage |
| Simon ZAHNER (SUI) | 29 | 33.0% |
| Sven NYS (BEL) | 28 | 31.8% |
| Wout VAN AERT (BEL) | 13 | 14.8% |
| Francis MOUREY (FRA) | 8 | 9.1% |
| Thijs VAN AMERONGEN (NED) | 6 | 6.8% |
| *** Abstention *** | 4 | 4.5% |
| Women | Number of votes | Percentage |
| Katerina NASH (CZE) | 34 | 38.6% |
| Sophie DE BOER (NED) | 18 | 20.5% |
| Katherine COMPTON (USA) | 17 | 19.3% |
| Marianne VOS (NED) | 16 | 18.2% |
| *** Abstention *** | 3 | 3.4% |
