Cycling Leader Optimistic About Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 -- ATRadio

(ATR) Tracey Gaudry, vice president of the International Cycling Union, says Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 will deliver on promises for cycling venues.

Gaudry spoke with Around the Rings on the final day of the 2015 Road Cycling World Championships in Richmond, Virginia.

The two-time Olympic road cyclist and chair of the UCI Women's Commission was still buzzing with excitement over the women's elite road circuit.

Great Britain’s Lizzie Armitstead won the gold medal in the women's elite road race on Saturday.

Last week, UCI announced the addition of the Women's WorldTour (WWT) to the federation's 2016 calendar.The top 20 women's teams will participate in the 35-day competition across nine countries.

Gaudry said that work on the WWT channels reforms set forth by the IOC's Olympic Agenda 2020, but also promotes UCI's own interests in promotinggreater investment in professional women's cycling.

UCI president Brian Cookson, who also spoke with ATR at the road worlds last week, said that the WWT is a "major step forward" for women's cycling.

He also said that a presentation from Rio 2016 at the UCI congress inspired hope in preparations for next year's Olympic Games.

Gaudry echoed Cookson's sentiments and said in recent months Rio 2016 has made significant progress on almost every cycling venue.

Written and produced byNicole Bennett

For general comments or questions,click here.

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics isAroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.