Australian coverage of the UCI’s events in road, track, BMC and mountain bike appears to be guaranteed for the next three years, following a major contract signed between the governing body and the TV channel SBS.
The Union Cycliste Internationale agreed terms for SBS to show the UCI World Cups and World Championships in all four of the Olympic cycling disciplines.
The exclusive-rights deal will ensure that SBS broadcasts the following:
• all UCI World Cup events (BMX, mountain bike, track cycling, road women) from 2010 to 2012
• 2011 and 2012 UCI Road World Championships
• 2010 and 2011 UCI Track Cycling World Championships
• 2010, 2011 and 2012 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships
• 2010, 2011 and 2012 BMX World Championships.
The world championship events will all be screened live, while the World Cup races could appear live or in television highlight programmes.
The news comes after the recent disclosure that the Fly V Australia team is likely to apply for ProTour status, thus making history for sport in the country.
It also comes at a time when Cadel Evans is reigning world road race champion, and just over a month before this year’s worlds are held in Melbourne and Geelong.