If you’re wondering what the lowercase and uppercase letter p/P next to riders’ names means on UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup start lists, find an explainer below.
In brief, if you are one of the top-ranked riders from the previous season or you are high up the current season’s rankings, you get protected status that either sees you through qualifying into semi-finals or directly into finals.
Read the full ruling below or delve into the 2024 UCI MTB Rule Book here.
From the UCI MTB Rule Book:
4.11.014
Protected riders to the semi-final are:
- riders with season long race numbers (i.e. ranked in the top 5 women elite and the top 10 men elite of the final UCI World Cup standings of the previous season)
- the best ranked riders from the current UCI World Cup standings, that are not included in point 1 above, until a total of 10 women elite and 20 men elite are reached
- if any riders as described under 1. and 2. above do not confirm participation at an event they will not be replaced.
Protected riders to the final are:
- riders ranked in the top 3 women elite and top 3 men elite of the final UCI World Cup standings of the previous season
- the best ranked riders from the current UCI World Cup standings, that are not included in point 1 above, until a total of 5 women elite and 10 men elite are reached
- if any riders as described under 1. and 2. above do not confirm participation at an event they will not be replaced
- men and women junior riders ranked in the top 3 of the current UCI World Cup standings. At the first UCI World Cup round of the season there will be no protected junior riders.
- If a rider is announced as retired, he is not eligible anymore as protected rider. The announcement of the retired status shall be done in writing to the UCI before 31 December of the previous year.
For the first UCI World Cup round of the season, the top 10 women elite and the top 20 men elite of the final UCI World Cup standings of the previous season are “protected” for the semi-final.
They must start in the qualifying round but qualify automatically for the semi-final in any case. If the times of the protected riders are not among the 15 best times for women elite or the 60 best times for men elite, they shall be allowed to ride in the semi-final in addition to the 15 women elite and 60 men elite riders already qualified.
For the first UCI World Cup round of the season, the top 5 women elite and the top 10 men elite of the final UCI World Cup standings of the previous season are “protected” for the final.
They must start in the semi-final round but qualify automatically for the final in any case. If the times of the protected riders are not among the 10 best times for women elite or the 30 best times for men elite, they shall be allowed to ride in the final in addition to the 10 women elite and 30 men elite riders already qualified.
4.11.015
The start order for the semi-final, if applicable, and final will be determined on the basis of the reverse results of the last qualifying round (the fastest rider starting last), except for the protected riders (defined in art. 4.11.014) and the fastest 5 men elite and 5 men junior and the fastest 2 women elite and 2 women junior non-protected riders, who will start as the last group of riders by order of the last qualifying result, reversed. (text modified on 1.01.24)
