The signing ceremonies between the UCI President, Mr Pat McQuaid, accompanied by the Director General, Mr Jean-Pierre Strebel, and the Presidents of Shimano Inc. and of Santini Maglificio Sportivo, Messrs Yoshizo Shimano and Pietro Santini, took place in Friedrichshafen, in Germany, during the international bike show Eurobike.

Shimano, a leading worldwide supplier of bicycle components, fishing tackle and other sports equipment, has been a UCI partner since 1999 and provides technical services at the Road, Track, Mountain Bike, Marathon, Cyclo-cross, BMX, Juniors and Para-cycling World Championships, as well as at the Mountain Bike and Cyclo-cross World Cup events. Shimano was also in charge of technical assistance at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 and in Beijing in 2008.

Ten years after the beginning of this collaboration, which represents an essential quality guarantee for riders and teams in all the cycling disciplines, Mr Pat McQuaid expressed his pleasure that the contract has been extended "Shimano is definitely one of our Federation's most loyal and prestigious partners, and we are honoured to have been able to extend our agreement with them. The level of the services that Shimano has always provided, as well as the importance of its financial contribution to different UCI activities - beginning with the World Cycling Centre in Aigle - have, over the years, provided us with a precious ally in our daily commitment to cycling."

Mr. Yoshizo Shimano commented "Shimano truly feels that the opportunity to extend this agreement is a special one. We are looking forward to the continued co-operation with the UCI in the coming years with our common goal in mind to promote the popularity of cycling all around the world in all disciplines and at all levels."

Santini Maglificio Sportivo is a company based in Bergame, Italy, that is active in the production of clothing. A long-term UCI partner, it provides the International Federation with the winners' jerseys for World Championships and the leaders' jerseys for the World Cups for all cycling disciplines that come under the aegis of the UCI, from BMX to road cycling, including cyclo-cross and others.

The President of Santini Maglificio Sportivo, Mr Pietro Santini, expressed his satisfaction "As a manufacturer, we are extremely proud to be a UCI partner. The fact that our company's logo appears on the shoulders of the world's greatest cyclists during the best moments not only of their career, but also of their life, fills us with pride and emotion."

Mr Pat McQuaid added "Over the years, the name Santini has become an integral part of the jerseys worn by the greatest riders participating in UCI events and series and I look forward to continuing the excellent collaboration that links my Federation with a company that is recognised for the quality of its product and its genuine passion for cycling".