South African event invited to join UCI ProTour

The UCI ProTour Council continued its efforts to expand the ProTour globally by inviting the Worlds View Challenge in South Africa to join the ProTour beginning in 2010. The Pietermaritzburg event has been staged as a UCI 1.1 event. The race's new status is expected to draw the best pro teams. The 2009 event is scheduled as a series of three one-day races, from February 13 through 15.

The inaugural Worlds View Challenge, owned and managed by Treble Entertainment, was made up of five one-day races staged in February of 2008. ProTour Teams Liquigas and Milram raced on the African Continent alongside others such as Barloworld and Pezula Racing.

The UCI ProTour kicked off in 2005 with 27 events and 18 ProTour teams. In 2008, the ProTour took its first step outside of Europe by adding the Tour Down Under in Australia to the calendar.

"This really is an amazing development especially if you consider that we have only staged one edition of the event to date," said Event Director, Alec Lenferna. "However, we know that the event was a great success, a first for this country and one which impressed the top teams and resulted in positive feedback to the pro peloton in Europe as well as the UCI.

"It is an honour to be asked to join the UCI ProTour and we will go back with renewed vigour and stage the 2009 event to meet the exacting standards, demands and regulations outlined by the UCI."

Treble Entertainment is also organizing a 2009 and 2010 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, a 2009 BMX World Cup and 2010 BMX World Championships.