UCI grants early extension of Tour Down Under ProTour license

The UCI extended ProTour event license agreements with organizers of two races on Wednesday after reviewing requests concerning the Tour Down Under and the Tour de Romandie.

The Tour Down Under had asked to continue with its ProTour event license through the end of 2013. The Australian race's license would have expired at the end of 2011 since it was first run as a ProTour event in 2008.

Lance Armstrong recently announced that he would return to the Tour Down Under for the 2010 edition, this time with his new RadioShack team. Armstrong finished 29th in this year's edition which was won by Aussie Allan Davis (Quick Step).

The Tour of Romandie's license was renewed for four years, and will now run through 2013. The current license was to expire at the end of 2009. Czech Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) won this year's edition which wrapped up in May.

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