The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is delighted to announce a two-year partnership with Mitas, beginning in 2019.
Mitas will support the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships presented by Mercedes-Benz, and the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, as an Official Partner.
This agreement with the Czech tyre manufacturer – part of the Swedish Trelleborg group – is further evidence of the attractiveness of mountain bike amongst the biggest brands.This partnership between the UCI and Mitas comes as mountain bike is enjoying significant increases in audience figures. The 2018 Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup achieved record viewing figures on Red Bull TV; similarly, the 2018 World Championships in Lenzerheide (SUI) saw a large increase in cumulative audience numbers, reaching 46 million television viewers.
Founded at the beginning of the 20th century, Mitas is known for its tyres, predominantly aimed at the agricultural market. The organisation has a substantial presence across Europe, and also has a long tradition of engaging with the two-wheel industry (motorbikes, scooters and bikes).
The Mitas brand is particularly visible in the Cross-country Olympic (XCO) discipline. They provide equipment for KROSS Racing Team, which includes in particular Poland's double Olympic medallist and 2010 UCI World Champion Maja Włoszczowska.
Since 2015, Mitas has also been the official tyre supplier for the Absa Cape Epic, an 'Hors Class' team stage race on the UCI International Mountain Bike Calendar. Furthermore since 2017, Mitas has become a title sponsor of Croatian stage race Mitas 4 Islands also on the UCI calendar.
Finally, Mitas participates in solidarity work by providing bike tyres to rural areas of developing countries, such as supported programme “Bikes for Africa” in Gambia, which has been running since 2014.
UCI President David Lappartient said: "We are delighted to welcome Mitas as an Official Partner of mountain bike. Mitas is favoured by a great many athletes and events, and its expertise in racing tyres is well-known. A renowned manufacturer having confidence in the UCI is further evidence that our major events stand out in the mountain bike world."
Head of Marketing of MITAS Bicycle Tyres Pavel Nosek stated: “We are excited about this partnership with the UCI, which complements our support for top-level cycling events. Thanks to this agreement, the Mitas brand will get even closer to mountain bike riders and to the discipline’s worldwide audience, reinforcing our reputation as a premium, reliable, competitive and Europe-based bicycle tyre manufacturer.”
About the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Founded in 1900, in Paris (France), the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is the worldwide governing body for cycling. It develops and oversees cycling in all its forms and for all people as a competitive sport, a healthy recreational activity, a means of transport and also just for fun. The UCI manages and promotes the nine cycling disciplines: road, track, mountain bike, BMX Racing, BMX Freestyle, para-cycling, cyclo-cross, trials and indoor cycling. The UCI Mountain Bike World Cup was founded in 1991. Cross-country Olympic and Downhill competitions take place across several continents and cover a number of different age categories. More information at www.uci.orgAbout MitasMitas, part of the Trelleborg Group, is one of Europe’s leading producers of tyres for agricultural machines, construction vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and other specialty segments with global sales and distribution network. Mitas manufactures an extensive range of bicycle tyres and tubes spanning from MTB, Cross to BMX, City, E-bike or Road. Mitas bicycle tires and tubes has been produced in the Czech Republic since 1929, however other Mitas products are manufactured in facilities in Serbia, Slovenia, and U.S. More information at www.mitas-tyres.com