World cycling event is the wheel deal for our cities

July 27, 2023

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Scotland is renowned for hosting top-quality sporting events, and this year’s highlight is the UCI World Cycling Championships (CWC23). This event is set to be the largest cycling event in history, taking place from 3rd to 13th August, with Glasgow as the main hub for the championships. However, the action will unfold across the entire country, attracting thousands of visitors and approximately one million spectators.

The UCI World Cycling Championships will feature around 8,000 cyclists from more than 120 countries, competing in various disciplines. It is a mega event created by merging 13 existing World Championships for the first time, with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) serving as the governing body for world cycling. The excitement of the championships will be broadcast by the BBC to 170 countries worldwide, with an expected TV audience of up to one billion viewers.

Glasgow will host seven events at iconic and landmark venues, including The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, known as Scotland’s spiritual home of cycling. However, the entire country will be involved in the event, with the cities of Stirling, Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee in the spotlight when hosting individual events.

The World Cycling Championships are coming to Scotland. Credit: UCI.

In total, the UCI World Cycling Championships will crown over 190 UCI World Champions, showcasing the diversity of cycling across different disciplines. For more information, visit the event’s website.

Some of the events below:

  • BMX Freestyle Park and BMX Freestyle Flatland: Glasgow Green in Glasgow will be the vibrant hub for these thrilling BMX events, where riders will showcase their skills and creativity.
  • BMX Racing: The action-packed BMX Racing competition will take place at the Glasgow BMX Centre, ensuring high-speed excitement and fierce battles on the track.
  • Gran Fondo: The beautiful regions of Dundee & Angus and Perth & Kinross will welcome the Gran Fondo, offering scenic routes for participants to enjoy as they tackle this challenging road race.
  • Indoor Cycling: The Emirates Arena in Glasgow will host the Indoor Cycling events, where competitors will demonstrate their agility, precision, and artistic flair.
  • Mountain Bike Cross Country and Mountain Bike Cross Country Marathon: The stunning Glentress Forest in the Tweed Valley will provide a thrilling setting for both the Cross Country and Cross-Country Marathon races, challenging riders with technical terrain and breathtaking views.
  • Mountain Bike Downhill: The world-class Nevis Range Mountain Resort in Fort William will be the stage for the Mountain Bike Downhill competition, offering riders a thrilling descent down challenging trail.
  • Para-cycling Road: The scenic landscapes of Dumfries & Galloway will provide the backdrop for the Para-cycling Road races, showcasing the remarkable skills and determination of para-cyclists.
  • Para-cycling Track: The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow will host the Para-cycling Track events, where para-athletes will demonstrate their speed, power, and precision on the track.
  • Road: The Road events will span across various locations in Scotland. The Road Race will commence in the captivating city of Edinburgh and culminate with an exhilarating finish at George Square in Glasgow. The Time Trial event will take place in the historic city of Stirling, offering a challenging course and a sprint finish at the iconic Castle esplanade.
  • Track: Alongside the Para-cycling Track events, Glasgow’s Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome will also host the Track competitions, featuring thrilling races and showcasing the incredible speed and skill of track cyclists.
  • Trials: Glasgow Green will be the backdrop for the Trials event, where riders will demonstrate their precision and balance while conquering challenging obstacles.

And the championships are also great news for the Edinburgh-based firm Commsworld, which has won a £1.25m contract to provide the digital infrastructure to stage and broadcast the event. Commsworld is contracted to provide bandwidth of up to 10 gigabits at all the sites – including the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Nevis Range near Fort William, Stirling Castle and Glentress Forest. This will give live pictures to European host broadcaster the EBU and UK host broadcaster the BBC, as well as the ability to give start, intermediate and race finish timing points for each event. The company will also provide Local Area Network (LAN) capabilities for fan zones, ensuring secure on-site Wi-Fi.

The CWC23 tagline is ‘Power of the Bike,’ aiming to inspire more cycling across Scotland for exercise, sport, transport, and recreation. Several projects, like the Cycling Facilities Fund and Community Cycling Fund, have already secured £9 million in funding. The £8 million Cycling Facilities Fund, launched in October 2020, aims to build accessible facilities to encourage people of all ages to embrace cycling. This partnership between Scottish Cycling and Sport Scotland ensures a lasting impact. The Community Cycling Fund, announced in May 2022, provides at least £1 million to celebrate cycling across Scotland’s 32 local authority areas before the championships, generating lasting benefits. The Fund is a joint initiative by 2023 Cycling World Championships Ltd, EventScotland, and Sport Scotland.

The good news doesn’t stop there, Glasgow has once again etched its name in history by securing the prestigious title of European Capital of Sport 2023. As the first city to claim this illustrious honour twice, Glasgow has solidified its reputation as a sporting mecca in Europe.

For sports enthusiasts and cyclists alike, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for. It’s time to ride into history!