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 Beverley, Doncaster, Leeds, Northallerton, Ripon, and York.
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.
Sports Minister Tracey Crouch, said: “The 2019 UCI Road World Championships will be a fantastic event that will see the very best cyclists competing for the coveted rainbow jersey with Yorkshire’s stunning scenery as the backdrop.
“I know that people from across Yorkshire and beyond will support this event and the riders will receive a fantastic reception. Hosting the Championships gives us a great opportunity to leave a legacy for the sport at the grassroots, with £15 million of government investment to build facilities and encourage participation across the country.”
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 talked about how delighted he is that the championship is to be hosted at the birthplace of the highly successful Tour de Yorkshire.
Julie Harrington, CEO of British Cycling, said: “This 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.
