Cultural cycling images before the inaugural Tour of Beijing. Stage 1 ITT coverage. Stage 2 to follow. The Tour of Beijing has been organized by the UCI and ASO (governing body of cycling and Tour de France) at the request of Beijing's Mayor. It's the biggest and most controversial new cycling event in many years because its formation is the result of a political alliance between China and the Governing body of cycling itself--which required all pro-teams of a certain caliber to send their athletes to the event. Major professional bike races are almost alway developed and promoted by private marketing groups. The Tour de France/UCI group hopes that the race will open the floodgates to new sponsorship from Asia and help raise awareness for the sport beyond-Europe/USA. For the Chinese, the race plays into Beijing's new green agenda that is promoting bike culture in the city. It also maintains employment activity for sports organizing committee staff groups initially set up for the Olympic Games-they need new sports-related projects to work on.