June 18, 2009 (Lausanne, Switzerland) – The Management Committee of the International Cycling Union (UCI), which is meeting from June 18 to 19 at the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne, Switzerland, today awarded the following World Championships:

– 2011 Indoor Cycling: Kagoshima (Japan)
– 2012 Track: Melbourne (Australia)
– 2012 BMX: Birmingham (Great Britain)
– 2010-2012 Masters Mountain Bike: Santa Catarina (Brazil)

The UCI Management Committee was very satisfied to hear the latest developments in the biological passport programme, on the basis of which the UCI yesterday opened the first disciplinary proceedings.

The UCI Management Committee was also pleased to hear of the decisions taken yesterday by the UCI ProTour Council (CUPT). The CUPT reserved the dates of September 10 and 12, 2010 for two new UCI ProTour races, both in Canada – the first in Montreal and the second in Quebec City. The organizers of both events have requested four-year licences. The applications must now follow the usual licence award procedures.

The Management Committee members were informed of a date change for the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya (Tour of Catalonia), which will next take place from 22 to 28 March 2010, and of an application by the organizers of the Tour of California for a UCI ProTour licence as from 2011. Here too, no licence may be awarded until all the formalities have been completed. The next Tour of California will take place from 16 to 23 May 2010.

The likely addition of three American races to the UCI ProTour represents exactly the kind of global expansion this calendar was intended to promote.

The Management Committee then granted approval for ear pieces to be banned on two stages of the forthcoming Tour de France (July 14 and 17).

The Management Committee welcomed the agreement concluded between the Astana team and its sponsors, and noted that the team’s riders would now have the peace of mind to focus on their careers once more. The UCI will inform the Licence Commission of this development and will continue to follow the situation closely.

Finally, the UCI Management Committee has decided not to institute disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Tom Boonen for having allegedly taken cocaine out of competition, after the Belgian rider supplied a number of elements in his defence.