Warner Bros. Discovery signs eight-year deal with UCI

Warner Bros. Discovery has agreed a wide-spanning seven-year deal with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).

The deal will see subsidiary Discovery Sports not only broadcast the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup for eight seasons, but it will also be charged with the organisation and promotion of the competition.

The UCI said that Discovery Sports’ tender is made up of ‘several strands’ regarding sporting and commercial matters, as well as those concerning the production and broadcasting of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. 

Discovery Sports will work alongside Enduro Sports to oversee the Mountain Bike World Cup’s organisation, media production and broadcasting.

Negotiations between Discovery Sports and the UCI were first announced in February, with the cycling body amicably ending its 10-year relationship with Red Bull Media House. The UCI thanked Red Bull for elevating the competition and significantly increasing its audience.

For Warner Bros. Discovery, the partnership will serve to boost the content offering for its standalone Global Cycling Network (GCN) streaming service. 

David Lappartient, UCI President, said: “I am elated by our partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, which will take our UCI Mountain Bike World Cup to the next level. Discovery Sports Events has already worked wonders with track cycling – thanks to the innovative UCI Track Champions League – and I know that the exciting discipline of mountain bike will also benefit from their expertise, their in-depth understanding of the expectations of athletes and fans, and the increased exposure that this partnership will bring. Mountain bike will get the impetus it deserves as we work together for the future of this vast and varied discipline.”