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.
Councillor Stanley Lumley, Harrogate Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Sports said: We have strong ambitions for the district to be recognised as a host of major events and we are well on our way to achieving this vision.
Over the last few years we have achieved major success by hosting the Tour de France in 2014 and Tour de Yorkshire in 2017, and having the Tour de Yorkshire coming through our district in 2016. These events demonstrated just how good a show we can put on and the 2019 UCI Road World Championships, will undoubtedly build on this reputation.
Being recognised as a host of major events brings significant rewards. Such events put our district firmly on the world stage. Our beautiful countryside, historic towns and picturesque villages are a visual treat for visitors, whilst our varied terrain has proven to be a real challenge for the professional cyclists. This will be shared with the world during the championships and firmly establishes the Harrogate district as the place to bring international sport.
These events are also a boost for tourism and our local economy through the increased number of visitors they bring to the district and the money they spend whilst they are here – especially in our shops, guest houses, hotels and restaurants.
We are thrilled that Harrogate and the surrounding district will play such a major role in this major international sporting event. Local people have flocked to these events in the past and I am sure the UCI Road World Championships in 2019 will once again prove to be a real success for the district.
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 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.
Simon Morton, Chief Operating Officer at UK Sport, said: Planning for the 2019 UCI Road World Championships is now well underway and it is great that so much of Yorkshire will play an important part in hosting the event. Thanks to investment from the Government and the National Lottery, Yorkshire will host a World Championships the whole country can be proud of. The event will further enhance the UK’s reputation as world-leading host of international sporting events and this announcement of host towns for Yorkshire 2019 is another exciting step on the road to the World Championships.
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.
