UCI confirms sole candidate, formal decision due to be made this afternoon
The world road race championships will head to the USA for the first time since 1986 after the UCI has confirmed that Richmond’s sole rival for the event, Muscat in Oman, has decided not to continue with its bidding.
“The UCI confirms that Muscat had previously withdrawn its bid to organise the 2015 UCI Road World Championships,” the governing body indicated in a statement today. “This decision in no way detracts from the commitment to develop cycling, as a sport and as a leisure activity, in the region.”
The news is a considerable boost to US cycling and should see a huge spectator turnout from those keen to see the world’s best riders. The country hosted big events such as the Amgen Tour of California and USA Pro Cycling Challenge this year but, unlike neighbours Canada, does not yet have a WorldTour event.
Moreno Argentin won the Elite road race when the championships were last held in the USA, beating Charly Mottet (France) in Colorado Springs.
Up until March there were three candidates for the 2015 championships; Richmond, Oman and Quebec. However the latter withdrew its bid, with organizer Serge Aresenault telling Radio Canada that the event would have cost $20 million, a sum which was too high. He said that he would instead focus on the WorldTour races taking place there.
With Oman now out of the reckoning, the path is clear for the USA bid. That will almost certainly be rubberstamped today, giving the organisers of the Virginia event four years to prepare.
Oman has not yet explained its withdrawn candidature. In this morning’s brief statement, the UCI concluded by saying that it “reiterates its support for the development of the annual Tour of Oman, the next edition of which will be held from 14-19th February 2012.”