Headed by Italian Cycling Federation President Renato di Rocco, the seven-member Commission spent two days at the UCI headquarters in Aigle, Switzerland, developing its long-term strategy.

With mass participation events like RideLondon - which attracted more than 25,000 cyclists last year - the UCI is confident the appeal of such rides, together with events like the World Cycling Tour, which is for amateur riders, will broaden the sport's appeal.

The Commission meeting in Aigle was attended by UCI President Brian Cookson and director general Martin Gibbs.

Cookson said: "The Mass Participation Commission will be central to the UCI's desire to help drive the development of non-elite and amateur cycling, and growing the number and reach of mass participation events will be central to this aim.

"I was delighted to see the energy and commitment of the Commission in its first meeting and it confirmed to me that mass participation events have huge potential.

"With more leisure time and an increasing desire by governments and individuals to improve health, there is a real opportunity to significantly grow mass participation events across all territories.

"I regularly ride mass participation events and I want the UCI to help bring the pleasure they give to more and more people, whatever their age or cycling standard."

As well as di Rocco, the Commission is made up of Trevor Bailey of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Briton Andy Cook, Australian Jon Leighton, Brazilian Ricardo Nogare, Norweigan Tone Lien and Italian Gianluca Santilli.

The UCI Management Committee will consider a number of recommendations from the Mass Participation Commission when it meets in Lausanne on June 12 and 13.

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