2012 Track Olympics - A letter to the IOC and UCI
The letter from the riders sent to Mr. Jacques Rogge, President of the IOC, and Mr. Pat McQuaid, President of the UCI, concerning the modifications of the track disciplines at the Olympic Games in London 2012

To: International Olympic Comittee
Mr. Count Jacques Rogge
President
 Lausanne, Switzerland

&  Union Cycliste Internationale
Mr. Pat McQuaid
President
 Aigle, Switzerland

Ghent, 29 November 2009

Concerning : Modification Olympic track disciplines

Dear Mr. Rogge, Dear Mr. McQuaid,
As a result of the rumours, reported by several sources, concerning the modifications of the track disciplines at the Olympic Games in London 2012, we would like to react. To our astonishment we heard that not less than 3 existing male disciplines would be canceled and replaced by an omnium. By taking the Madison, Points Race and Individual Pursuit disciplines away, there will be a huge impact on endurance track cycling as the prestige in those events will be very low, if they aren't on the Olympic program. Therefore, there will be a big risk of losing some of the best track athletes, and we will no longer have the best athletes in the world competing against each other.

Replacing the three endurance track disciplines with an omnium competition isn't a viable solution. The idea of bringing the omnium to the Olympic program is, as we see it, a compromise. If that is done, we are not going to have the world's best pursuiters and points race riders at the starting line in the future.

We absolutely understand that the IOC might want gender equality and we are certainly not against it. But we kindly ask you to obtain this in two phases: an elevation of the number of female participants in 2012 and a restructuring of disciplines and medals in 2016.

The development of athletes and their sport requires a vision on the long term, that can't be upset in 2 years time. A lot of us have already been working towards the Olympics for several years. With two years to go they hear now that all their work and investments they have done will not lead them to a qualification for the Olympic games in 2012.

We hope that you will take our letter in consideration and when decisions concerning track cycling have to be taken, a delegation of riders can be involved in this process.

Hoping for a positive reaction,

Yours sincerely,

Riders signing the letter:
Morkov Michael (Denmark)
2nd Olympic Games team pursuit Beijing 2008 World champion Madison 2009 3rd World championship Madison 2008 3rd World championship team pursuit 2007

Rasmussen Alex (Denmark)
2nd Olympic Games team pursuit Beijing 2008 World champion Madison 2009 World champion team pursuit 2009 3rd World championship Madison 2008 3rd World championship team pursuit 2007

O’Shea Glenn (Australia)
National champion scratch, points race 2009 Winner world cup Madison Beijing 2009, 1st Oceania championships omnium, scratch 2007

Howard Leigh (Australia)
World champion omnium 2009 2nd world championship Madison 2009 2nd world championship team pursuit 2009 Winner world cup Madison Beijing 2009 2nd world championship omnium 2008

Risi Bruno (Switzerland)
2nd Olympic Games Madison Athens 2004 World champion points race 1992, 1994, 1999, 2001 World champion Madison 2003, 2007 European champion Madison 1995, 2006

Marvulli Franco (Switzerland)
2nd Olympic Games Madison Athens 2004 World champion Madison 2003, 2007 - World champion scratch 2002, 2003 European champion Madison 2004, 2006

Stam Danny (Netherlands)
European champion Madison 2002 2nd world championship Madison 2005, 2007,  3rd world championship Madison 2004

Lampater Leif (Germany)
National champion pursuit 2005 Winner 3 world cup races (2 x Los Angeles 2005, Manchester 2005)

Keisse Iljo (Belgium)
4th Olympic Games Madison Beijing 2008 European champion Madison 2008, 2005 - 2nd world championship points race 2007 European champion derny 2006 - 3rd world championship Madison 2005, European champion Madison U23 2004 Winner UIV-cup 2003-2004, Winner 1 world cup race (Moscow 2005)

Roger Kluge (Germany)
2nd Olympic Games points race Beijing 2008, European champion Madison 2009, 2nd World championship Madison 2008

Mertens Tim (Belgium)
National champion omnium, scratch 2009, 3rd European championship team pursuit U23 2007, Winner UIV-cup 2006-2007,  Winner 3 world cup races (Los Angeles 2008, Cali 2008, Manchester 2009)

Schep Peter (Netherlands)
World champion points race 2006, 2nd world championship Madison 2007,  2nd world championship team pursuit 2007,  3rd world championship points race 2008

De Ketele Kenny (Belgium)
4th Olympic Games Madison Beijing 2008,  European champion derny 2009 European champion Madison 2008, European champion Madison U23 2004, 2006 - 3rd European championship team pursuit U23 2007,  European champion points race U23 2007 - Winner 2 world cup races (Los Angeles 2008, Manchester 2009)

Cornu Dominique (Belgium)
3rd World championship individual pursuit 2009,  European champion individual pursuit U23 2007 -  3rd European championship team pursuit U23 2007,  World champion time trial road U23 2006

Van Bon Leon (Netherlands)
2nd Olympic Games points race 1992 - 2nd world championship road 1997

Aeschbach Alexander (Switzerland)
National champion Madison, team pursuit, points race European champion Madison 2004

Marguet Tristan (Switzerland)
National champion Madison

Schets Steve (Belgium)
European champion Madison U23 2006

Hester Mark (Denmark)
Winner UIV-cup 2004-2005

De Poortere Ingmar (Belgium)
Winner UIVcup 2006 - 2007, Winner of 1 world cup race (Cali 2008)

Cocquyt Nicky (Belgium)
Winner UIV-cup 2005-2006

Andreas Muller (Austria)
3rd world championship scratch 2009

De Neef Steven (Belgium)
2nd European champion derny 2003

Gert-Jan Jonkman (Netherlands)
National champion 2008,  2nd European championship team pursuit U23 2004

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