Australian cycling, already celebrating its first Tour de France winner in Cadel Evans, has received another boost with the news that the licence for the Tour Down Under has been extended until 2015.
The race was the first outside Europe to join the governing UCI's pro tour schedule in 2008 and the next edition will again open the new season in January.
Evans, who became the first Australian to win road cycling's biggest prize last month, will be paraded through the centre of Melbourne on Friday week, but is unlikely to take part in the Tour Down Under next year.