President Bach visits UCI Road World Championships in Italy
President Bach was in Imola, Italy, this weekend for the UCI Road World Championships. Accompanied by the President of the International Cycling Union (UCI), David Lappartient, he saw the Men’s and Women’s Elite Road Races and got to talk to a number of the athletes as they prepare for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
On Saturday, after watching the Women’s Race, he congratulated Anna Van der Breggen, who took the World Championship road title for the second time in her career.
Van der Breggen, from the Netherlands, who was unstoppable at Imola, also won the women’s road race gold medal at the Olympic Games Rio 2016.
Shortly after the race, President Bach said: “It’s a great experience to finally see live sports again. Everybody was waiting for these moments, especially the athletes, which is why I’m so pleased to be here. The IOC wants safe and secure Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 for all the athletes and spectators, and cycling has delivered a tremendous example of how to organise a complex and very safe sports event.”
Also present were IOC members in Italy Ivo Ferriani, who is President of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, and Giovanni Malagò, who is President of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI). Also there was Francesco Ricci Bitti, who is President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Sports Federations (ASOIF).
The following morning, President Bach had a breakfast with the IOC members, during which they discussed the preparations for the upcoming Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
He then went with President Lappartient to watch the Men’s Elite Road Race, where he later joined the winning riders at the medal ceremony.