Feb 5th, 10. This year there are more countries represented in pro-tour teams and more countries hosting pro-tour events than ever before.  Lance Armstrong comments about the globalisation of cycling.

Armstrong discussing changes in cycling ©RoadCycling.co.nz

"It's not the cycling we saw in the days of Eddie Merckx and Bernard Hinault and even Miguel Indurain," Lance Armstrong said of the current cycling scene.

In 2009 there were only two non-European teams racing in the pro-tour events, Columbia HTC and Garmin Slipstream.  With the addition of US teams Team RadioShack and BMC, and the UK's Team Sky, there are now five for 2010.

Last year's Tour Down Under in Australia was the first year a pro-tour event was hosted outside of Europe, in 2010 there are UCI ProTour races in three continents;  Europe, Oceania and for the first time, North America.

"It's a good thing. It might be a little surprising to some, maybe even to me," Armstrong said.

The three pro-tour events to be held outside Europe this year are the Santos Tour Down Under in Australia and the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal both in Canada in September.  

In addition, the UCI World Road Championships are to be held in Australia this year, only one of three times it has been race outside Europe in the past 20 years.

UCI President Pat McQuaid has also discussed his intention to look to the Asian and African continents hosting pro-tour events in the future.

At a press conference at this year's Santos Tour Down Under, Armstrong fielded questions about the changing landscape of cycling at the top level.

"The sport has become much more global.  I'm not exactly sure why that is but I don't think it is a bad thing. I think it is a good thing we have major teams from all continents on the planet," he said.

Armstrong believes there are two aspects to the change, more riders and teams from different countries, and a bigger appetite to host major events outside of Europe.

"I think the globalisation of cycling is a plus, in my opinion.  If it's the depth of teams who come from all over the world, or if it's simply taking the World Championship to other places besides Belgium, Italy, France, Switzerland, Spain  - I think it also needs to travel."

New Zealand is contributing to the globalisation of cycling.  This year we have a record five riders in pro-tour teams and all but one is in a non-European team.

• Julian Dean, Garmin Transitions, US
• Greg Henderson, Team Sky, UK
• Hayden Roulston, HTC Columbia, US
• Sam Bewley, Team RadioShank - US
• Tim Gudsell, Francais des Jeux - France

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