IG Markets Launch Pro Cycling Index

LONDON, June 27, 2011 -

IG Markets, a leading CFD
trading and href="www.igmarkets.co.uk/cfd/forex.html">forex company
and sponsor of Team Sky, is proud to announce the launch of the
IG Markets Pro Cycling Index, which aims to provide
sports fans, the media and stakeholder groups with a comprehensive
means of assessing the achievements of cycling’s top riders.

The IG Markets Pro Cycling Index draws on IG’s core competency
of understanding complex markets and aims to shine a light on the
sport’s pecking order to bring it into line with readily understood
classifications in other sports, such as those in tennis and
golf.

Drawing on the expertise of leading sports data provider Opta,
who have produced similar rankings for other major sports, and a
panel of leading cycling journalists and former professional
riders, the IG Markets Pro Cycling Index has been devised by
creating a system of weightings and bonuses which are applied to
the sport’s many different levels of racing.

“As IG Markets have always been about innovation and making
markets easier to access, creating a new Index for professional
cycling is a natural extension of our business and our involvement
in the sport,” commented Olly Stevens, Brand Director, IG
Group.

“Opta is very excited to be involved in such an innovative
project. The IG Pro Cycling Index should give cycling fans the most
thorough indicator yet of just who are the top performing riders in
the sport.” Duncan Alexander, Head of UK Media, Opta.

The IG Markets Pro Cycling Index will be updated daily during
Grand Tours and updated at the beginning of every week during the
season.

Riders score points for wins and placings, but with a steep
drop-off between a win and the rest of the podium and minor
placings. The Index also rewards excellence with bonus points for
back to back wins for major race wins in the same season, multiple
stage wins, queen stage victories and a ‘Rider of the Day’ award
during the Grand Tours.

Full details of the workings of the Index and the bonus system
visit

href="www.igmarkets.co.uk/procyclingindex">www.igmarkets.co.uk/procyclingindex

Comment from a key cycling journalist:

‘Who’s the best?’ a topic that’s been hotly debated by cycling
fans for many years. I believe the IG Markets Pro Cycling Index
will help answer the question. A system that fairly awards the
different disciplines, rider-types and races will also go a long
way to helping casual followers of cycling gain a greater
understanding of how the sport works.”

Alasdair Fotheringham, Reuters and The
Independent (IG Markets Expert Panel member)

About IG Markets:

IG Markets is an international financial derivatives
company, offering clients the ability to trade on over 8,000
shares, indices, currencies, commodities and treasuries from
markets across the globe. IG Markets is part of IG Group (IGG.L),
which employs in excess of 900 people and has offices in 14
countries worldwide.

About Opta:

Opta are Europe’s leading sports data company. They collect,
package and distribute information on around 60,000 fixtures every
year, from over 30 different sports in around 70 countries and
since their inception in 1996 they’ve built up the most
comprehensive historical sports database in the world. This means
that they understand sport, and they understand the part that data,
information and statistics have to play in the fabric of sport.
Their mission is to make sense of stats, bringing the data to life
in a way that everyone can understand.

For further information contact:
Tony Cross
href="mailto:Tony.Cross@iggroup.co.uk">Tony.Cross@iggroup.co.uk

Tel: +44-207-573-0245

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