The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Oakley are delighted to announce a two-year partnership starting in 2019.
Oakley 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.
The arrival of the celebrated US eyewear brand, which is owned by the Italian group Luxottica and has been a player in the cycling industry for several decades now, is yet another sign of the faith that leading brands and media partners have in mountain bike.
The 2018 Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup attracted record audiences on Red Bull TV, while there was a significant increase in the cumulative audience for the 2018 UCI World Championships in Lenzerheide (SUI), with 46 million viewers tuning in.
Oakley has been part of our sport for more than three decades. In the 1980s, the brand made a name for itself within the road cycling peloton with its glasses, helmets and its line of clothing. Today is supplies several UCI WorldTeams and top teams in the UCI Women’s WorldTour. At the end of the 1990s, Oakley extended its activities to include mountain bike, and has been chosen by legends such as Julien Absalon and Nino Schurter (cross-country Olympic) and Greg Minnaar and Rachel Atherton (downhill).
From 2019, the partnership with the UCI will start a new chapter in the history of Oakley’s involvement in cycling.
“The arrival of an international brand such as Oakley is excellent news for mountain bike,” said UCI President David Lappartient. “At a time when our competitions are enjoying increasing popularity, it gives me great pleasure to see an established player in the cycling industry demonstrate their faith in our discipline. Our partnership will combine the global and high-profile exposure of UCI events with the expertise of Oakley products.” “At Oakley we look for partnerships that share our passion for technological innovation, that allow us to stay ahead of the game and set the standard in sports performance. We can’t wait to work with the UCI over the next two years and beyond in creating the ultimate experience for athletes and spectators”, said Ben Goss, Oakley Global Brand Director.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, for all people as a competitive sport, as a healthy recreational activity, as a means of transport, and also just for fun. he UCI manages and promotes the nine cycling disciplines: road, track, mountain bike, BMX – Racing and Freestyle –, paracycling, cyclo-cross, trials and indoor cycling. The UCI Mountain Bike World Cup was founded in 1991. Olympic cross-country and downhill competitions have since been held on several continents and across different age groups. More information on www.uci.org
About OakleyEstablished in 1975 and headquartered in Southern California, Oakley is one of the leading product design and sport performance brands in the world. The holder of more than 800 patents, Oakley is a culture of creators, inventors, idealists and scientists obsessed with using design and innovation to create products and experiences that inspire greatness. This philosophy has made Oakley one of the most iconic and inimitable brands on the market, with products that world-class athletes around the globe depend on to compete at the highest level possible. Oakley is known for its High Definition Optics®, which features unparalleled optical clarity and precision along with impact resistance and UV protection, incorporated into all of the brand’s sun, prescription eyewear and premium goggles. Oakley extended its position as the world’s leading sports eyewear brand into apparel and accessories. Oakley has men’s and women’s product lines that appeal to Sports Performance, Active and Lifestyle consumers. Oakley is a subsidiary of Luxottica Group. Additional information is available at www.oakley.com.