2010 World championships Australia

2010 UCI ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT

26th May  - Australia

Race Website

The courses for the UCI Road World Championships were announced today in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. In 2010, Melbourne will welcome the 77th UCI Road World Championships. This event is second only to the legendary Tour de France in terms of importance and prestige in international cycling and it will bring the best riders in the world to Australia. The popularity of the Tour de France in Australia and the excitement created by it will flow on to create unprecedented interest in the World Championships. 


It will be the first time the event has been held in Australia and only the 6th time it has been stages outside Europe. Staged over five days, commencing 29 September through to 3 October 2010, the UCI Road World Championships include road races and individual time trials for elite men and women, and under 23 men.  

Victorian Premier John Brumby said, "I am pround of Victoria and the fact that we are leaders in National and major events. Victoria is truely one of the worlds best global cities, has the best sporting infrastructure and a proven support from the local community for events run in the state. This is a massive achievement to secure this event and it will be the first time ever that the Mens event will start and finish to two cities, showcasing the best of Melbourne and Geelong." 

Anna Meares (World and Olympic Track Cyclist), while expressing that she could not ride the distance of the road race, she shared her experience of winning a World Championship jersey in front of a home crowd (Melbourne 2004) and how much that was an unbelievable experience. "A 5000 strong crowd cheering for you is an incredible experience. It was an eye opener for me wearing an Australian jersey and winning a World Championship jersey, there was a unity of the people, something you only experience in your home country," said Meares

Champion Australian cyclist and Victorian local, Cadel Evans, said he was looking forward to competing in Melbourne and Geelong next year."It's great to have a top-level bike race in Australia and particularly for me to have it in Geelong," Evans said. "The course is suited to the all-round strengths of the Australian team maybe more than any of the other countries. It's one of the best courses there has been for an Australian team since Zolder in 2002.There should be a great ambiance on the course with a big crowd and I know there will be heaps of Europeans coming to Australia for it," added Evans

Cycling Australia President, Mike Victor OAM sees hosting the UCI Road World Championships as a crowning achievement for Australian cycling. "Australia has previously hosted the track, mountain bike and BMX world championships, and this year will again host the mountain bike and BMX worlds. Hosting this blue riband event shows how much confidence the UCI has in our ability to organise a world class event," Mr Victor said. 

"It also recognises the extraordinary growth of the sport in Australia and is a fitting reward for our road cyclists whose international performances have moved Australia into the top three ranked nations in the world. Cycling Australia is extremely grateful for the support of the Victorian Government in the growth of cycling and we look forward to witnessing the world's best road cyclists in action," added Victor

Unveiling the scenic course schedule at Federation Square, Mr Brumby said Australian stars Cadel Evans, Stuart O'Grady and Robbie McEwen would join more than 1200 riders from 60 countries in the five-day championships.

"The Victorian Government is taking action to attract sporting events that boost Melbourne's international status as a major events capital, drive jobs, investment and grow tourism," Mr Brumby said.

"The UCI Road World Championships stand at the pinnacle of the world cycling calendar, ranking alongside the Tour de France as one of the most coveted prizes in cycling.

"Next year's race is a major coup for Victoria - it is only the sixth time the race has been hosted outside Europe and will shine an international spotlight on our state, with an expected global television audience of 400 million. Starting at Federation Square, the race will showcase iconic parts of Melbourne before completing 11 laps of the circuit around the streets of the Geelong region," he said.

Sports Minister James Merlino said securing the UCI Road World Championships was a major coup for Victoria and another highlight on Victoria's major sporting calendar. "The Brumby Government is taking action to continue building on Victoria's status as a major events capital with the UCI Road World Championships joining a suite of great cycling events to have been hosted by our state," Mr Merlino said.

"It builds on the success of cycling events such as the 2004 UCI Track World Championships, the 2002 UCI Juniors Track World Championships, and the annual Jayco Herald Sun Tour , Jayco Bay Series and Around the Bay in a Day," said Merlino