China's capital will host cycling's elite peloton for the next four years with the inaugural Tour of Beijing in October set to become Asia's first stop on the WorldTour calendar.
International Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid and Beijing vice mayor Liu Jingmin signed the agreement in London on Wednesday, the UCI said. "The Tour of Beijing is a significant step in the UCI's policy of the globalization of cycling," McQuaid said. "Like other countries in this continent, China is fast establishing an important place for itself in the world of cycling, and we are extremely satisfied to be able to finalise this project."