McQuaid: Crisis unlikely to affect sport

Cycling should largely escape the effects of the credit crunch, International Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid said.

McQuaid told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday: ‘I really don't think it's going to touch cycling hugely, I think race organisers will have more difficulties than teams because teams have a lot to offer, the sport of cycling has a lot to offer and the sponsors still have to show their brand.’

The globalisation of cycling would continue, with new events such as the Tour of Russia and the Tour of China going ahead almost as scheduled, said McQuaid at a meeting of the International Cycling Writers' Association.

The Irishman said: ‘Russia's economy has been affected by the crisis but the project to develop cycling in Russia is not affected.

‘The implementation of the Tour of China will go on although it will not be held in 2009 but in 2010 hopefully.

‘We are continuing the process as quickly as we can in China, bearing in mind you can't move fast in China because of the bureaucracy but I don't think the crisis is going affect that project.’

Some sponsors had left the sport at the end of the 2008 season but the credit crunch could not be blamed, said McQuaid.

Danish team Saxo Bank lost co-sponsor IT Factory this month after the firm declared bankruptcy and said its chief executive had embezzled 500 million crowns (£85 million).

McQuaid said: ‘If crisis is involved in that, I don't know.

Cycling's premium series, the UCI-ProTour, would have 18 teams next year, the same as in 2008.

McQuaid said: ‘The ProTour situation is fine with 18 teams coming in.

‘Sport itself will survive the crisis, cycling likewise will survive this crisis, it's too good value for money...Cycling is one of the best sports for sponsors.’

McQuaid said the return of seven-times Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong would benefit cycling.

He said: ‘He brings a lot of media behind him, that's for sure.’

This was a reference to the fact that there were more than 120 reporters at the American's official media conference at his Astana team's training camp in Tenerife last week.