09 Aug 2019
Own the Ride looks to inspire more people to take up cycling ahead of UCI world championships
BY Tom Walker
A legacy campaign looks to utilise the forthcoming 2019 UCI Road World Championships and attract more people to take up cycling.
The Own the Ride project, created jointly by British Cycling and Sport England, has been designed to engage people with the UCI event and encourage them to create their own opportunities to be active through cycling.
The world championships will take place in Yorkshire from 22 to 29 September – the first time the competition will have been held on British soil in 37 years.
Own the Ride looks to benefit from the increased interest in cycling created by the event and includes initiatives which will reach out to people of all ages and abilities, including a partnership with Motitech – motivating older people and those with dementia to engage in more physical activity.
“We’ve worked hard alongside Sport England to guarantee that anyone, anywhere can Own the Ride and feel a real affinity with cycling before, during and after the road world championships," said British Cycling CEO Julie Harrington.
“Whether they’re a fan cheering on the world’s elite on the roadside, watching at home, a local authority, or indeed, a rider from the Great Britain Cycling Team, we are looking for people to Own the Ride and embrace cycling in any way they choose.”
The nationwide campaign was unveiled in South Yorkshire, with the showcasing of the first major legacy investment into cycling facilities linked to the UCI championships – the Doncaster Cycle Track –
Doncaster Cycle Track is a 1km-long, 6m-wide traffic-free circuit for cyclists of all ages and abilities expected to attract over 40,000 visitors in its first year alone.
Featuring the world’s only man-made cobbled climb, the cycle track will host the UCI junior women’s road race and men’s under-23 road race on 27 September.
The facility was funded by Doncaster Council and a grant from the £15m Places to Ride programme, delivered in partnership with the DCMS, Sport England and British Cycling.
The programme supports the development of new (and improvements to) cycling facilities in England.
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