International sports broadcaster Eurosport has acquired exclusive rights in 36 European countries to the International Cycling Union’s (UCI) World Championship events.
The four-year deal runs from 2017 to 2020 and grants Eurosport rights to events such as the Road World Championships, Track Cycling World Championships and Cyclo-cross World Championships.
Eurosport will hold rights for all UCI events across Europe, except in France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Finland.
Its coverage will be non-exclusive in the following markets: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.
Eurosport agreed the deal with the UCI and the European Broadcasting Union consortium of public-service broadcasters.
As well as the aforementioned World Championships, the agreement includes the Cyclo-Cross World Cup, Urban Cycling World Championships, Track Cycling World Cup, BMX World Championships and Mountain Bike World Championships.
The contract bolsters Eurosport’s cycling portfolio, which includes rights to Grand Tours the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a España.
Eurosport chief executive Peter Hutton said: “After a four-year absence from Eurosport screens, we are delighted to have reached an agreement with the UCI for the next four-year cycle. Along with our enhanced production of events such as the Tour de France, we can continue to claim the mantle of the Home of Cycling.”
The deal has been signed ahead of the start of the Road World Championships in Bergen, Norway this weekend.