With just under six months to go until the biggest cycling event in history, Scottish Cycling is delighted to be launching Ride The Worlds, a programme of events aimed at maximising the impact of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.

As an Official Activation Partner of the World Championships, Scottish Cycling will deliver it’s Ride The Worlds programme in the lead up to and during August’s event, with the aim of engaging with as many cyclists and cycling fans as possible.

Ride The Worlds will be made up of a number of different components, aimed at getting new people into the sport, as well as giving young cyclists the opportunity of a lifetime, by qualifying to race at some of the World Championship venues directly before their idols!

One of the core components of the programme in the build up to the World Championships is Experience The Worlds, which will provide opportunities across the length and breadth of Scotland, for people to give cycle sport a try. Whether that’s BMX, MTB, Speedway or simply riding your local pump track, Experience The Worlds will give people a flavour of how great cycling is, with grassroots racing and club sessions giving anyone and everyone the chance to participate.

What’s more, should you take part in an Experience The Worlds event, you’ll be entered into a ballot to win tickets to go and spectate at the World Championships in August. 

For current youth riders, Race The Worlds will offer up a once in a lifetime opportunity to race at World Championship venues, with all the razzmatazz that surrounds a major event. With regional qualifiers taking place through the spring, U12, U14 and U16 racers will have the chance to qualify for the finals, which will take place during the World Championships.

Further details about this incredible opportunity, including which disciplines will be contested, will be available very soon! If you want to speak to us directly about the possibility of your school, club, or community organisation hosting one of our Experience the Worlds events, or Race the Worlds qualifiers, please email us at ridetheworlds@scottishcycling.org.uk (please note information for participants and competitors will be available via the Scottish Cycling website in due course).

 

The final element of the Ride The Worlds programme will see a Scottish Cycling presence at fan parks at World Championship venues. Spectators will be able to visit the Scottish Cycling stand, take part in a cycling challenge and find out more about what we do. Look out for us there, and be sure to come say hello! 

Commenting on the launch of Ride the Worlds, Sophie McCall, Head of Development & Participation, said: 

"The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships is going to be an incredible event for Glasgow and Scotland, and we are delighted to be working with the organisers to deliver complementary events across Scotland. Whether it's experiencing the thrill of the events first hand by being part of the World Championships at venues across the country, or potentially having the chance to take to the start line themselves, we really want to deliver a memorable and lasting impact for our community, and over the course of 2023 we’ll be helping take the event to the next level for everyone involved." 

Welcoming Scottish Cycling as an Activation Partner, Director of Strategy and Policy Impacts at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, Craig Burn, said: 

“One of the main objectives of the Championships, is to encourage more people on to bikes, and for them to experience the enjoyment and freedom that cycling can bring. The Ride The Worlds programme provides a huge opportunity for everyone to get involved – whether they’re interested to try cycling or a more experienced rider. By working in partnership with Scottish Cycling, we aim to maximise the long-term impact by delivering a programme of grass roots event opportunities across Scotland, before, during and after August 2023.

“Participants of Race The Worlds will also feel the buzz around the biggest cycling event ever, by having the chance to cycle at official Championship venues across Scotland – that’s an opportunity not to be missed! We know that cycling has the power to change lives and through this partnership we will introduce new audiences to the many great experiences cycling can offer.”

The Cycling World Championships is a once in a lifetime opportunity to bring a range of cycling disciplines together, making the most of Scotland as the perfect stage. Working with the organising body, Scottish Cycling will help realise the strategic ambitions of the Scottish Government, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and their key partners, by creating an unforgettable experience for both cyclists and spectators, and delivering a lasting impact for both cycling and Scotland.  

Whether it’s experiencing the thrill of a World Championship race, getting a taste of racing for the first time, or being inspired to start cycling, cycle more, or make cycling a sport for life, Scottish Cycling wants to the help people from all walks of life feel the benefit of this once in a lifetime event.