Red Bull, best known for its coverage of the Mountain Bike World Cup, announced that the International Cycling Union (UCI) has entered into exclusive negotiations with Discovery Sports for the organization and promotion of the series beginning in 2023.

Racing will continue to be handled by Red Bull for the 2022 season, and the contract with Discovery Sports covers eight years through 2030.

"The proposal by Discovery Sports was selected by the UCI as part of a bidding process and consists of several elements, including those related to sport and commerce, and the production and broadcast of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup," the UCI said in a statement to the media.

." More detailed information on the concept that Discovery Sports has developed to promote the further development of the discipline will be communicated at the time of the signing of the agreement bringing the two parties together."

The Discovery Sports brand includes Discovery Inc assets such as Eurosport, Global Cycling Network, and Global Mountain Bike Network, as well as the free-to-air Discovery+ and Discovery networks, as well as the free-to-air sports offerings of discovery+ and Discovery. The listed global media company confirmed earlier this month that it is in discussions with BT Sport about a proposed merger of Eurosport's UK operations.

As part of the final process for the Mountain Bike World Cup deal, Discovery Sports will begin contacting current and potential event organizers.

"Discovery Sports will be in contact with the 2022 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup organizers and all organizers who have expressed interest in hosting the 2023 and 2024 series," the UCI statement said.

"Red Bull is an energy drink brand that was created in Austria in the 1980s and quickly gained worldwide recognition due to its strong ties to high-energy events.

"The UCI would like to thank Red Bull Media House, the producer and main broadcaster of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. Red Bull Media House has used all its expertise to satisfy the passion of mountain bike fans around the world for more than a decade and has significantly increased the audience for the series in that time.

The main program is a combination of cross-country (XCO), cross-country short track (XCC), and downhill (DHI), but the World Cup, which also includes a stand-alone downhill event, will be held in Lourdes, France on March 26-27 for the 2022 Downhill race The World Cup, which also includes a Downhill race in Lourdes, France, on March 26-27, and the Cross Country category in Petropolis, Brazil, on April 8-10, will start.

The UCI added that all 2022 events will be available on Red Bull TV and the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup broadcaster channels.