Today (3 August 2022), the organisers of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships marked one year to go until the event with an eye-catching cycling demonstration at George Square, highlighting the unique bikes of the various disciplines that will be part of the event in Glasgow and across Scotland from 3 to 13 August, 2023.
Nine-time UCI Trials World Champion rider Jack Carthy, local BMX Freestyle Flatland rider Reece Thomson, and German artistic cyclist Ramona Dandl were joined by the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships CEO, Trudy Lindblade, and Glasgow City Council Leader, Councillor Susan Aitken to celebrate the latest milestone in the build-up to the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds.
Passers-by were able to learn more about the exciting competition coming to Scotland as well as see the power of the bike up close through a trials demonstration by Carthy, who could be seen popping wheelies and leaping onto obstacles in George Square.
Artistic cyclist Ramona Dandl and local BMX Freestyle Flatland rider Reece Thomson also wowed the public with gravity-defying cycling stunts during the event. From handstands on her handlebars to standing on the moving bike’s saddle, Dandl showcased feats of bravery and balance while giving a taste of what to expect during the UCI Indoor Cycling World Championships next year. In addition, Thomson could be seen spinning, swinging and standing on his bike during a dizzying demo of BMX Freestyle Flatland, which mixes cycling with parkour and breakdancing.
It’s a great privilege to be able to mark one year to go until the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and share in the excitement for an event of this calibre with an exciting display in George Square. Scotland is the perfect location for the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds and I look forward to being here next year and witnessing the world’s top athletes in action.
As we mark one year to go until the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, you can feel the excitement build towards the largest cycling event in history. We cannot wait to welcome fans from around the world to Glasgow and Scotland for this first-of-its-kind event to experience the power of the bike across 13 exhilarating championships that is sure to leave unforgettable memories for all who attend.
The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships is a brand new and innovative event which will provide opportunities for people to get excited about and engage with a variety of cycling disciplines in Glasgow and across Scotland – from track cycling to mountain biking to road racing.
Major global events such as this enrich our cultural and sporting life, and I hope that today’s one-year countdown to the Championships will encourage cyclists of all ages and stages around the country to get on their bikes.
We are delighted to mark one year to go until Glasgow and locations across Scotland welcome thousands of spectators and athletes from around the world. Glasgow has a proud history of hosting world-class sporting events as a top 5 global sporting city and looks forward to providing a great experience for all involved.
The Championships will inspire people across Glasgow to get on their bikes, travel sustainably on our growing network of high quality, segregated cycling infrastructure and help us on our journey to reach our net zero targets.
The UCI and the entire cycling community are looking forward to this first edition of the UCI Cycling World Championships. Cycling in all its forms never ceases to develop, and this event will be an historic moment that symbolises the evolution and growth of our sport. With today's celebrations in Glasgow and the launch of the "All Kinds of Amazing" campaign, we are all excited to be entering the home stretch for an event that already looks to be a phenomenal success, thanks to the dedicated commitment of the organisers and their partners.
New campaign launched
Alongside the one year to go celebrations, a new campaign entitled "All Kinds of Amazing" has been launched to showcase both the event and the power of the bike. The multi-channel, domestic campaign featuring across outdoor, social, and digital channels will celebrate the breadth of cycling disciplines, bringing the fans to the forefront, through key visual assets and a short film.
Watch the "All Kinds of Amazing" short film on YouTube.
Today’s milestone is just the start of an exciting 12 months of announcements and activations as we build towards the inaugural event. In the coming weeks and months further details about the event including volunteering, competition schedule and tickets going on sale will be announced.
One mega-event
The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will be the first time all 13 UCI World Championships have been combined into one mega-event, making it the largest event in cycling history. Audiences in Scotland and around the world will see more than 8,000 amateur and elite cyclists from more than 120 countries, pedaling for glory with more than 190 UCI World Champions to be crowned.
The 13 UCI World Championships included in the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships are: BMX Freestyle Flatland; BMX Freestyle Park; BMX Racing; Gran Fondo; Indoor Cycling; Mountain Bike Cross-country; Mountain Bike Downhill; Mountain Bike Cross-country Marathon; Para-cycling Road; Para-cycling Track; Road; Track; Trials.
The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships is being delivered in collaboration between the UCI, Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council, UK Sport, British Cycling, Glasgow Life and VisitScotland. The partnership aims to create a blueprint for future editions by ensuring the inaugural event is authentic, innovative and distinctive.