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A Day in the Life of the UCI President - The Send It Daily - 329

A Day in the Life of the UCI President - The Send It Daily - 329

Happy Friday Eve! We've got a day in the life of the UCI President. PLUS: Two epic videos, Aaron Gwin going warp speed, Post Canyon magic, stealth mode in your house, and loads more. LET'S SEND IT👇

1250 words of pure stoke.
Read time: 4 min 56 seconds.

One of our first pieces of art submitted from a Send It Daily reader!

Photo of the Day

Throwback to Aaron Gwin going warp speed as usual.

Can’t wait to see what kind of wizardry he pulls off this season on the Crestline rocket ship.

📷 Bartek Wolinski behind the lens.

Video of the Day

An insane amount of content dropped over the last 24 hours.

Some tough choices but we were able to narrow it down to two absolute bangers for you all!

Up first: Bas van Steenbergen sending it down Utah’s legendary ridges.

Just the sound of gritty rubber hitting dirt and your heartbeat trying to keep up.

Pure unfiltered speed!

We’ll be replaying this a few times today.

⏰ Watch time - 3 min 28 sec

Bonus: If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to ride faster than a speeding ticket, just watch this Chris Derkum edit.

He’s more blur than man at this point.

⏰ Watch time - 1 min 46 sec

Send of the Day

Matt MacDuff going to the moon.

Watch here

Behind the Scenes of the UCI: What Do They Really Do?

PC: Angelos Tzortzinis

After Lappartient’s failed IOC bid, we got to thinking: What does the UCI actually do?

Spoiler alert: it's not just handing out trophies and making sure the riders don’t crash into each other.

Here’s the lowdown. 👇

What is the UCI?

The UCI is basically the big boss of global cycling.

Founded in 1900 (before anyone knew how to properly wear Lycra), they set the rules, organize races like the World Championships, and make sure cycling isn’t a free-for-all.

Evie Richards performs at UCI XCO in Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic on October 4, 2020
PC: Bartek Wolinski

They’ve been keeping things in line for over a century - no small feat when you’ve got people zooming around on two wheels and a load of riders that generally don’t like to follow the rules.

A Day in the Life of the UCI President (As Described by The Send It Daily Team)

Wake up.
Make espresso.
Reply “noted” to 47 angry emails from downhill fans.
Put on tie.
Try not to think about Red Bull.
Host a Zoom call about banning socks over 20cm.
Approve a new rule requiring time trialists to blink less.
Ignore voicemail from riders asking for prize money increases.
Lunch: baguette and a sense of superiority.
Draft a press release about innovation while riding a penny farthing.
Debate whether to fine a rider for having too much fun.
Push a gravel world championship poster straighter on the wall.
Try to understand enduro. Fail.
Wrap up with a keynote on “Growing the Sport”.
Then head home on an e-bike.

But in all seriousness, The UCI President oversees the Union Cycliste Internationale, cycling’s global governing body.

They set the strategic direction for all disciplines — road, MTB, BMX, track, cyclocross, gravel (yes, gravel).

Their job includes managing relationships with national federations, event organizers, sponsors, and the IOC.

They approve rules and regulations, and occasionally stir up controversy (hello, sock height limits).

They help decide where World Championships are held and ensure events meet UCI standards.

They push for the global growth of cycling (both as a sport and as a mode of transport).

They’re involved in anti-doping efforts and ethical policy enforcement.

They attend a lot of meetings. Like, a lot.

They advocate for cycling infrastructure and safety at the political level.

They work with media partners and try to keep the sport financially healthy.

They also help steer the development of women’s cycling and para-cycling.

And yes, they get to hand out rainbow jerseys.

At the end of the day, they’re part politician, part CEO, part referee.

Loic Bruni claimed his third overall Downhill World Cup series title in 2024
PC: UCI MTB World Series

What Else You Should Know About the UCI

🏢 Where’s the HQ?

Aigle, Switzerland. Because nothing screams "extreme sports" like a lakeside Swiss town with a population of 8.

And yes, their office has its own velodrome.

Your office has a broken Keurig.

👥 How many people work there?

About 120 people, all busy hecking UCI-approved paint colors.

💼 Can I get a job there?

Sure… if you’re fluent in French, fluent in bureaucracy, and passionate about spreadsheets, doping control, and the political implications of white handlebar tape.

Bonus if you can say "We’ll look into it" with Olympic-level sincerity.

🍽️ Free lunch?

No confirmed reports.

But it’s Switzerland, so either a fondue fountain in the break room or a $19 banana.

No in-between.

❤️ Why do people love the UCI?

They organize the biggest races, hand out rainbow jerseys, and occasionally make good decisions like supporting women’s cycling and building training programs in places without access to high-end gear.

😤 Why do people hate the UCI?

Banning custom kits? Fining riders for post-race hugs? Inventing sock height rules and then enforcing them with a measuring tool that looks like a school ruler from 1987?

Sometimes it feels like they're speedbrakes for progress.

🧪 Do they do anti-doping stuff?

Yes, they're the pee police. The UCI was instrumental in launching the biological passport, which tracks your blood like a suspicious vampire accountant.

🚴‍♂️ Do they ride bikes?

Some do! Others just attend four-hour meetings about riding bikes. Which is almost the same.

👑 Who’s in charge?

Currently David Lappartient who looks like he was generated by AI to run an international sports federation.

He’s French, always composed, and allegedly has opinions about drop-bar angles.

Dream Rides ❤️

PC: Unleazhed

We spotted this custom creation from Super Smash Bikes.

This thing looks fast just standing still.

We’re convinced this bike needs its own fan club.

Got a bike that makes your friends drool? We wanna see it! Shoot us an email at editorial@thesenditdaily.com, and maybe your ride will be the next superstar.

PC: Unleazhed

PC: Unleazhed

Trail of the Day

Upper Grand Prix, Post Canyon - Hood River, Oregon

PC: Nxeros11

GP is your go-to gravity fix.

A fast, flowy rollercoaster that snakes down the hill like it’s late for dinner.

Big berms? Yup. Jumps? You bet.

A few mandatory gaps that whisper “you sure about this?”

But don’t stress. There are ridearounds for every “hold my beer” moment, making it totally cruise-able for confident intermediates and brave beginners who’ve watched at least three YouTube tutorials.

Upper and Lower GP split at the Baby GP junction, which sounds cute until you realize Baby GP still wants to ruin your weekend if you forget how to brake.

Lower GP is the locals’ hot lap. Fast, fun, and perfect for pretending you're faster than you actually are.

BONUS: Braydon just dropped this epic video showcasing how cool the Post Canyon trails really are, so make sure to give that a watch! 👇

Laugh of the Day

Sometimes stealth can make or break a ride 🥷

That’s all for today folks. We hope everyone gets some saddle time out there. See you all tomorrow! 🤙

For the ❤️ of two wheels.

We write The Send It Daily Monday - Friday (we’re out riding on the weekends). We do not proofread our material before sending and did not get A’s in English.

Our mission is simple: To advocate and bring awareness to the athletes that Send It and the media teams that capture it.

If you’re looking to feature content on The Send It Daily, reach out to editorial@thesenditdaily.com.

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