The UCI Road World Championships will return to British shores for the first time in 37 years after Yorkshire was awarded the 2019 event.
Not since Goodwood in 1982 has the UK hosted the Championships, but that will all change in three years time after a successful bid by Welcome to Yorkshire with partners UK Sport and British Cycling.
The county – which is well known for producing a number of British Olympians including London 2012 silver medallist and 2015 world champion Lizzie Deignan – has a recent history of putting on cycling events having hosted the opening stage of the Tour de France in 2014.
Since then there have also been two editions of the three-day stage race, the Tour of Yorkshire with UCI President Brian Cookson praising the county’s ability to put on a show for riders and spectators.
“The UCI Management Committee is pleased to award the UCI Road World Championships to Yorkshire in 2019,” said Cookson, speaking from the current World Championships which are being held in Doha.
“Since hosting the Tour de France’s Grand Départ in 2014 and subsequent Tours de Yorkshire, the county has proved it is a fitting host for road cycling’s leading annual event and we are sure there will be world class crowds to match.”
The collegiate bid was compiled 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 that budget will be used to develop 27 cycle sport facilities across the UK which will leave a lasting legacy at grassroots level.
In addition there is £3 million of National Lottery funding from UK Sport. Ian Drake, chief executive of British Cycling said: “To get £15 million to invest in cycle sport facilities is massive and will truly leave a lasting legacy for this event.
“While we’ve been building dozens of new facilities over the last decade, this is an opportunity to ensure that every area of Britain has close access to a closed road circuit, velodrome, BMX track or mountain bike trail.
“This is transformational for the sport and will inspire thousands of people to take up cycling.”
Sportsbeat 2016