Underlines globalisation of the sport as a priority
UCI President Pat McQuaid has said that the 2010 world road race championships makes it far more likely that other such events will be organised outside Europe in future, saying that it is proof that globalisation of the sport can work.
“It has been a decision which was an absolutely correct one,” he said, referring to the success of Australia hosting the championships. “I can tell you that the teams that are here, the team managers that are here [who] have many, many years experience of cycling, world championships and major events, have said they’re absolutely happy with everything that has been laid on from here.
“They’re happy with the atmosphere, happy with the course, happy with the security, happy with everything.”
Cycling is a sport which has been based mainly in Europe and the vast bulk of the road world championships have been held there. In fact, the UCI has gone outside the continent just seven times – Montreal (1974), San Cristóbal (1977), Colorado Springs (1986), Utsunomiya (1990), Duitama (1995), Hamilton (2003) and now Geelong.
However there are strong indications that the sport will spread further afield, both through the promotion of future worlds outside Europe, and also via the ProTour. This year ProTour events were held in Australia and Canada, and there’s talk of other such races being added in future. What’s more, there is debate about possibly starting the 2012 Giro d’Italia in Washington.
McQuaid feels this is the best way to grow cycling. “For our sport and for us in cycling we’re trying very hard to globalise the sport,” he explained to those present at the UCI Mayoral Civic Reception. “We are known as a Western European sport and we’re trying very hard to globalise the sport. You have done a huge assistance to us this week in globalising our sport.
“The images that have gone [out] and the memories that will go back with the Europeans to Europe means it’s much easier for us in the UCI to suggest going outside of Europe in the future for world championships.”