NEW UCI AGREEMENT STRENGTHENS EUROSPORT’S CYCLING OFFERING IN 2021 FOR FANS ACROSS EUROPE

Eurosport continues to cement its place as the go-to destination for millions of cycling fans across all disciplines in Europe in 2021 after securing a raft of rights to world-class Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) events* from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

The agreement incorporates some of the UCI’s blue-chip events including the UCI Road World Championship, UCI Track Cycling World Championship, UCI Mountain Biking World Championship, BMX World Championship, Urban Cycling World Championship, Cyclo-Cross World Championship** as well as the conclusion of the Cyclo-Cross World Cup** season with exclusive coverage in over 35 markets and territories across Europe***.

In 2021, Eurosport will also screen over 290 days of live men’s and women’s cycling as well as un-matched coverage of the sport’s most prestigious races including every Grand Tour, all five Monuments and over 35 UCI World Tour events screened across Eurosport, Global Cycling Network and Eurosport’s offering on discovery+ in markets where it has been introduced****. In addition, Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will see the world’s elite cyclists compete for 22 medals across track, road cycling, mountain biking, BMX and BMX freestyle events over 16 days of top-class competition with every minute live and available to watch only on Discovery’s platforms.

Andrew Georgiou, President, Eurosport and Global Sports Rights & Sports Marketing Solutions, said: “The new UCI agreement  secured through  EBU is testament to our commitment serving the world’s largest community of cycling fans whether it be through Eurosport or GCN and strengthens Discovery’s ties with the UCI. Discovery is already working closely with the UCI on several initiatives, with Eurosport Events set to be a key partner in delivering the new UCI Track Cycling Champions League competition, due to kick off later this year.

“2021 will be a year to remember for cycling fans and we’re delighted to be able to follow the journeys of the world’s best cyclists year-round across multiple disciplines as they prepare themselves to compete at the Olympic Games. Our heritage in cycling is second to none and whether it be on Eurosport, discovery+ or on GCN for the most passionate cycling fans, Discovery will ensure the broadest audience enjoys a fully immersive experience of hundreds of events, meaning every story will be covered throughout the year.”

UCI President David Lappartient added: “Cycling has seen a sharp increase in audiences in 2020, whether it be the Tour de France or the UCI Road World Championships in Imola, Italy, and across the various disciplines for which races have been able to take place in the current health context. 2021, with the Tokyo Olympic Games in particular, promises to be an exciting year and cycling should once again establish itself as a major sport for fans and television viewers.

"The partnership with Eurosport, which will result in even more cycling competitions in Europe in 2021, is expected to increase the popularity of cycling at major UCI competitions and during the Olympic Games. We look forward to this new cooperation with Eurosport, a major partner, particularly in the redesign of track cycling and the future series, the UCI Track Champions League, which will be inaugurated at the end of the year.”

This year is already shaping up to be a must-watch year for fans of all cycling disciplines across Europe. It brings even more of the world’s greatest sport to Eurosport’s offer on discovery+****, the new streaming home of Eurosport’s premium unrivalled, premium and locally-relevant multi-sport offering.

Key dates for the diary:
• Ends January - UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup
• 30-31 January - UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championship, Oostende, Belgium
• 17-22 August - UCI BMX World Championship, Arnhem, Netherlands
• 25-28 August – UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, Val di Sole, Italy
• 18-26 September - UCI Road World Championship, Flanders, Belgium
• 13-17 October - UCI Track Cycling World Championship, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
• TBC - UCI Urban Cycling World Championship

*Agreement covers Europe except France, Denmark, Norway and Sweden
**No Cyclo-cross rights in Belgium in 2021
*** Total exclusivity across Europe except Albania, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, UK
**** Global rollout of discovery+ in Europe begins in 2021 with the U.K. and Ireland, the Nordics, Italy and the Netherlands; distribution partners include Sky in the U.K. and Ireland and TIM in Italy