North Yorkshire host towns revealed for UCI Road World Championships

The towns and cities across Yorkshire being lined up as host locations for the 2019 UCI Road World Championships have been revealed.

Harrogate has been named as the main competition town and finish location for each race. Race start locations have been proposed in York, Northallerton, Beverley, Doncaster, Leeds,  and Ripon.

The 2019 UCI Road World Championships include a wide range of men’s, women’s and junior races, which take place over nine days. Harrogate will host two circuit races and the other races will start in locations in right across the county.

The event in September 2019 will mean cycling on a scale never seen before heads to Yorkshire.

This will build even further on the county’s growing global reputation for the sport after the hosting ‘the grandest of Grand Départs’ for the 2014 Tour de France and the annual legacy race the Tour de Yorkshire which has continued to grow each year, with record breaking spectator numbers.

Yorkshire won the right to host the event after a joint bid between Welcome to Yorkshire, British Cycling and UK Sport and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The government has committed to invest £24 million into the event, £15 million of which will be used to develop 27 cycle sport facilities across the UK which will leave a lasting grassroots legacy. In addition, there will be £3 million of National Lottery funding from UK Sport.

Sir Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said:

“We are delighted to announce our intention to start the UCI Road World Championship races in 2019 in all four corners of Yorkshire making sure the races take in the full splendour of this beautiful and diverse county.

This is an unprecedented opportunity to showcase Yorkshire to the world and I have no doubt that every town and village on the final routes will be ready with their famous Yorkshire welcome as seen for the Tour de France and now each year for the Tour de Yorkshire.”

Brian Cookson, President of the UCI said:

“Following on from the hugely successful Grand Depart in 2014 I have been delighted to see the birth and development of the highly successful Tour de Yorkshire and was thrilled when we announced at last year’s world championships Yorkshire would host the UCI Road World Championships in 2019. Congratulations to each of the towns and cities that have been announced today.”

Julie Harrington, CEO of British Cycling, said:

“Today’s announcement will generate huge anticipation across Yorkshire and it is also an exciting day for the rest of the country thanks to the £15 million national investment in cycle sport facilities.

At British Cycling we judge the success of major events not only in medals won or in numbers watching but by people being inspired to get active by getting on a bike.

The landmark facilities investment secured by British Cycling means a national legacy has been built into the championships from the start and marks all of the stakeholders in this event as pioneers, setting a new standard for the hosting of major sporting events.”

Organisers are working closely with local authority partners including North Yorkshire County Council, East Riding Council, Doncaster Council, Leeds City Council, Hambleton District Council, Harrogate Borough Council and City of York Council.

FACT FILE

• The UCI Road World Championships is one of the most prestigious events on the road cycling calendar.

• Future UCI Road World Championships:
o 2017 - BERGEN (NORWAY)
o 2018 - INNSBRUCK (AUSTRIA)
o 2019 - YORKSHIRE (GREAT BRITAIN)

• 1,000 of the best male and female riders from around 75 countries around the globe compete for the chance to win the iconic rainbow jersey.

• It includes time trials as well as full road races for Under 18, Under 23 and Elite riders.

• 6,000-7,000 national federation members, delegates, technicians and journalists set to be in attendance.

• A predicted global televised audience in excess of 300 MILLION.

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