Imagine being a young rider and being told you have the chance to race at a UCI World Championship venue directly before your idols!

Well, that has become a reality. Working with the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships as an Official Activation Partner, Scottish Cycling will be staging youth races at those very venues this August.

Titled ‘Race The Worlds’, the series will feature regional qualification races across the country, with qualifiers going on to earn a place to race at the Race the Worlds Finals taking place during this summer’s 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. So, if you dream of being the next Isla Short, Reece Wilson or Finn Crockett what are you waiting for!

Race the Worlds is a key part of Scottish Cycling’s overarching Ride The Worlds programme which will be delivered throughout Scotland in the lead up to and during August’s event and aims to engage with as many cyclists and cycling fans as possible by giving them the opportunity to experience the thrill of the event and inspire them to make cycling a sport for life.  

The Race the Worlds regional qualifiers will take place across Scottish Cycling’s five regions. The regional qualifiers will be super fun racing that anyone can take part in, no matter your ability level or aspirations, with a lucky few qualifying for the chance to go on and race at the World Championship venues this August.

Speaking of the opportunity, Team Scotland’s Commonwealth Games Road Race bronze medallist, Finn Crockett, said:

“I wish this opportunity had been available when I was a youth rider! My cycling journey started out in dirt crits up in the North of Scotland, before progressing to MTB racing and later the road. It was all about having fun, and enjoying my cycling, and this looks pretty awesome!

“My advice to youth racers from all over the country is give this a go – you won’t regret it. And it’ll be even better for those lucky few who will get the chance of a lifetime, but you’ve got to be in it to win it!”

Launching this exciting new programme, Scottish Cycling’s Head of Development and Participation, Sophie McCall, said:

"Race the Worlds will provide young people from across Scotland with the opportunity to connect to the Cycling World Championships, experience the thrill of a World Championship race, have a taste of racing themselves, and inspire and empower them to make cycling a sport for life, delivering a long-lasting impact and developing a nation of cyclists."

Craig Burn, Director of Strategy and Policy Impacts for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships said:

“The Race The Worlds series is a once in a lifetime opportunity for young riders across Scotland to get involved and earn their place to compete in finals on the perfect stage during the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.

Establishing a programme of regional events that culminate in finals during the World Championships is a fitting way to showcasing the grass roots of the sport and ensure memories, hopes and dreams are created. Cycling has the power to transform lives and, through opportunities like Race The Worlds, will hopefully inspire the next generation of cyclists for the future.”

Key info

The racing will take place across four disciplines: Dirt Crit, Mini DH, Road Crit and Pump Track
Racers must be in the following categories: U12 Boys, U12 Girls, U14 Boys, U14 Girls, U16 Boys, U16 Girls
Which qualifier do I ride: You can race as many of the regional qualifiers as you like, but you’ll only be eligible to qualify for the finals based on the local authority you live in.

Want to find out more? Then head to our specific Race The Worlds pages, which outlines all the rules and regs, and has the full calendar of Race The Worlds Regional Qualifiers.

Series Regulations

FAQs

Discipline Guidelines

Calendar

Events subject to change.

Mini-DH

Event	Region	Date	Venue	Enter	Organiser
Qualifier	East & Central	Saturday 13th May	Newcastleton	Results Here	Rock UK
Qualifier	South West & West	Saturday 27th May	Ae Forest	Results Here	Aessocation/Bike Shop
Qualifier	North East	Sunday 18th June	The Lecht	Results Here	Deeside Thistle
Qualifier	North	Sunday 2nd July	Laggan	Results Here	Laggan Forest Trust
Final	World Champs	TBC	TBC	Qualifying Only	Scottish Cycling

 

Pump Track

Event	Region	Date	Venue	Enter	Organiser
Qualifier	North East	Saturday 6th May	Kennoway	Results Here	Scottish Cycling
Qualifier	East & Central	Saturday 20th May	Hawick	Results Here	Velosolutions/ Hawick Pump Track
Qualifier	South West & West	Sunday 28th May	Bellshill	Results to follow	Scottish Cycling
Qualifier	North	Sunday 11th June	Boat Of Garten	Results Here	Scottish Cycling
Final	World Champs	TBC	TBC	Qualifying Only	Scottish Cycling

Road Circuit

Event	Region	Date	Venue	Enter	Organiser
Qualifier	North	Monday 1st May	Grampian Cart Track	Results Here	Elgin CC
Qualifier	East and Central	Tuesday 6th June	West Lothian Cycle Circuit	Results Here	West Lothian Clarion
Qualifier	South West & West	Saturday 10th June	Kames Motor Circuit	Results Here	East Kilbride RC
Qualifier	North East	Wednesday 14th June	Fife Cycle Park	Results Here	Fife Council’s ActiveFife
Final	World Champs	TBC	TBC	Qualifing Only	Scottish Cycling

XC Dirt Crit

Event	Region	Date	Venue	Enter	Organiser
Qualifier	East & Central	Friday 26th May	Callendar Estate	Results to follow	Falkirk Junior Bike Club
Qualifier	South West	Saturday 3rd June	Kirroughtree	Results Here	Galloway Hillbillies BC
Qualifier	West	Saturday 17th June	Chatelherault	Results Here	Clydesdale Colts
Qualifier	North East	Sunday 25th June	Middle Den	Results Here	Middleden MTB Club
Qualifier	North	Saturday 1st July	Laggan	Results to follow	Laggan Forest Trust
Final	World Champs	TBC	TBC	Qualifying Only	Scottish Cycling