The news comes just weeks after Cadel Evans became the first Australian to win the Tour de France and gives further backing to an event which became the first non-European race to join the International Cycling Union’s (UCI) Pro Tour calendar in 2008. The Grand Prix of Montreal and Quebec have since been added to the schedule as part of the UCI's attempt to globalise the sport.
UCI president Pat McQuaid stated the UCI Licence Commission’s decision was appropriate given “the impressive development of Australian cycling which has an excellent ambassador in Cadel Evans, world champion in 2009 and winner of the Tour de France this year.” The 2012 Tour Down Under will retain its place as the season-opening event when it takes place from January 17-22.
In other news, the Licence Commission this week granted a WorldTour licence to the Tour of Beijing for the period 2011-2014, furthering the UCI’s global plans. The inaugural Tour of Beijing, which will take place from October 5 to 9, will be the 27th event of the WorldTour.
McQuaid added: “This licence over a four-year period will allow for the creation of an event that is structurally and economically solid, based on a long-term project which will benefit the city of Beijing and cycling as a whole. This first UCI WorldTour event in Asia will also provide the UCI with an exceptional showcase portraying its vision of the universal development of sport. In addition it will be a unique opportunity for UCI ProTeams and their sponsors to nurture their growth and further increase their visibility.”
Meanwhile, the HTC-Highroad team on Thursday announced it will exit professional cycling at the end of the season after failing to find a new sponsor. The announcement ends a five-year spell in the sport when it has consistently ranked No.1 in the world, culminating in Mark Cavendish’s green jersey victory in last month’s Tour de France. However, despite the team’s success it struggled to attract a new sponsor or convince mobile phone manufacturer HTC to renew its agreement. Team owner Bob Stapleton told reporters: “We went public with our sponsorship search just before the Tour. We were frustrated by the indecision of our title sponsor HTC who, after many months of assurances, had not come forward with a commitment to the team. That indecision remains a mystery to me.”