More status for Tour Down Under

South Australia’s state government is likely to increase its investment in the annual Tour Down Under cycle race if it gains Pro Tour status from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the cycling world’s Swiss-based governing body.

The Pro Tour's governing body will decide in September if the South Australian event, which celebrates its tenth year in 2008, is given the increased status.

If given the Pro Tour status, the event will become of even greater interest to professional cycling fans around the world.

In 2005, the Tour Down Under was promoted by the Union Cycliste Internationale to the international rating of Hors Classe 2, making it the largest and highest ranking cycling event outside of Europe.

South Australia’s Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith met with UCI board members in London at the start of this year’s Tour De France.

She told Adelaide Now, the on-line version of the city’s main daily newspaper that her four-day visit to London gave her an invaluable opportunity to present South Australia's case for gaining Pro Tour status for the race.

She said that if South Australia were successful in its bid, more money would have to be spent on the race here as costs would increase.

"We have made this bid, we have made this commitment, and we will follow through," she said, adding: "There will be costs, but this is an important positioning for South Australia in that it certainly helps our tourism marketing, because people see us around the world."