UCI and Infront to Achieve Record Broadcast Coverage for Road World Championships

The International Cycling Union (UCI) and its marketing partner Infront Sports & Media are expecting “unprecedented” levels of television broadcast coverage for the upcoming UCI Road World Championships.

According to an official statement, the number of license holders and guaranteed broadcast visibility is higher than any previous event.

The event, which takes place in Florence, Italy 22-29 September, has been licensed to around 30 television networks across Europe, North and South America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.

Current UCI President Pat McQuaid, who is under serious pressure to retain his position in the upcoming elections, said: “Thanks to Infront’s experience in global sports rights distribution and its extensive network, the UCI Road World Championships will be accessible to more fans in both new and established territories.

“This is leading the way for other cycling disciplines as well as demonstrating the sustained and ever growing global interest in the sport.”

The Championship will be featured in new territories for the first time in the Middle East (Al Jazeera), Israel (Charlton) and South America (Direct TV).

Long standing public broadcast partners continued their support including in Belgium VRT and RTBF, BBC in the UK, NOS in Netherlands, Rai in Italy and SRG in Switzerland. Further European broadcasters include RTV Slovenia, Sport 1 Hungary, Czech TV in the Czech Republic, Polsat in Poland and Slovak TV in Slovakia.

Stephan Herth, Infront’s Executive Director Summer Sports, added: “The UCI Road World Championships has never been more accessible to fans than it is today. Broadcasters are acknowledging the heritage and future potential of the sport along with the global fan community now benefitting from coverage worldwide.

“Depending on each market’s media landscape and cycling tradition and by working on a territory by territory approach, UCI and Infront have very closely worked together to select the best possible broadcast outlet for the event in each region.”