World Cups

World Cup prize money at each round stays the same for 2018 but there is a 10 grand increase in the overall standings prize pot with the top three almost doubling. There’s also a graded pay scale from sixth to tenth, not just a flat rate of €968 (£850) anymore.

First place now earns a decent €10,000 (£8,800), second place €6,000 (£5,200) and third €4,000 (£3,500).

This co-incides with the UCI chainging how the points will be awarded at the season finale. In La Bresse, no points will be awarded for qualifying, instead they will be added to the race points and awarded in one chunk (so first place gets 250, second place gets 200, third 170 etc).

There could now be a big money finale that all comes down to the last run of the year. We sort of get it, but it does seem a bit like the continuing trend of pushing downhill to be a spectacle as well as a sport. It’s probably best to wait and see what happens with that though, it could all be academic by August anyway.

World Championships

Big increases in prize money for the World Championships this year. Yes, only the top three get cash but the prize pool for them is almost as big as the whole top ten’s at a World Cup.

There’s now €5,000 (£4,400) for the winner, €3,000 (£2,600) for second €2,000 (£1,750) for third. That’s pretty good money in our book, nice one UCI.

the juniors will also be happy as they get a five-fold increase in prize money at World Champs including €1,250 (£1,100) for the winner – that’s a lot of WKD!