November 30, 2007 – South Australia has been guaranteed the rights to host a leg of the world’s most prestigious cycling race – the UCI ProTour series – for at least the next four years.

The news, announced overnight by the UCI, comes just two months after South Australia’s famous Tour Down Under was named as the first UCI ProTour cycling race outside of Europe from 2008.

The event, to be staged from January next year, will attract the 18 best cycling teams in the world to South Australia and beam the State into lounge rooms around the world.

Mr. Pat McQuaid, the President of UCI, said “I would like to congratulate the organizers of the Tour Down Under, as the event fully deserves to be part of the UCI ProTour. Australia has become one of the leading nations in international cycling.”

“It is only fair that Australia should now host the highest level event. The inclusion of the Tour Down Under in the UCI ProTour is excellent news for cycling: it shows that our sport is continuing to develop, outside of Europe.

“Our thanks to Premier Mike Rann and all of his staff,” Mr. McQuaid said.

Premier Mike Rann says this latest news gives the State further cause for celebration.

“Winning the 2008 event for our State was a major coup and I am absolutely ecstatic that it has now been locked in for the next four years,” Mr. Rann says.

“The four-year guarantee is a huge vote of confidence in the success of the Tour Down Under and South Australia’s ability to host such a prestigious event.

“South Australia will not only be the first country outside of Europe to host UCI ProTour in January next year, it also is the first on the UCI ProTour calendar for next year’s series.

“Race organizers and local councils are planning a week-long party to mark this historic milestone for our State, including an official welcome ceremony in the city.”

Premier Rann says the announcement guarantees South Australia at least four years of worldwide exposure and a chance to continue to build the event each year.

“Over time, we hope to achieve a 60 percent increase in tourists from interstate and overseas and a 40 percent increase in media publicity and television broadcast.

“The UCI ProTour is the highest ranking and the highest honour that could be given to our Tour Down Under.

“Today I’m also pleased to announce the 18 cycling teams that will come to South Australia for the UCI ProTour Tour Down Under. Competing cyclists will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

“We have made a request to the UCI to look at the UCI ProTour regulations to allow the Australian national cycling team UniSA, a Tour Down Under stalwart, to take part next year.

“Expanding the UCI ProTour outside of Europe for the first time is breaking new ground and we are hopeful of successful talks that will see the much-loved UniSA team continue to take part.”

Teams taking part in the inaugural UCI ProTour Tour Down Under:

– Ag2r – La Mondiale (FRA)
– Astana (SUI)
РBouygues T̩l̩com (FRA)
– Caisse D’Epargne (ESP)
РCofidis, le Cr̩dit par T̩l̩phone (FRA)
РCr̩dit Agricole (FRA)
– CSC (DEN)
– Euskaltel-Euskadi (ESP)
– Francaise des Jeux (FRA)
– Gerolsteiner (GER)
– Lampre (ITA)
– Liquigas (ITA)
– Milram (ITA)
– Silence – Lotto (BEL)
– Quick Step (BEL)
– Rabobank (NED)
– Saunier Duval (ESP)
*High Road (former T-Mobile) (GER) *Conditional upon UCI approval of the new team structure