UCI CREATES JAMBOREE OF WORLD EVENTS

THE UCI recently sent out a press release announcing that Glasgow and Scotland have been awarded the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships.

My first thought on finally getting around to reading the first sentence of the release was that they had made a mistake: “Hah, somebody at the UCI does not understand the word inaugural,” was my smug initial reaction.

However, after reading on I offer my apologies to the UCI: They used the word “inaugural” correctly, their PR department just didn’t word things particularly clearly.

The UCI World Championships in August 23 will be historic and innovative in that they will be the first time 13 UCI World Championships will take place at the same time and at (almost) the same venue.

I think it is a wonderful innovation and will be great for cycling.

Instead of having 13 different cycling world championship events spread over the year, separating the marketing value, there will be one massive jamboree of top level cycling.

Think how great it would be to travel to Scotland in 2023 and in the space of two weeks see Peter Sagan win the road race, Chris Froome take the time trial title, Greg Minnaar claim the downhill title, Jaroslav Kulhavy win the marathon MTB and Nino Schurter finish second to Alan Hatherly in the cross country. And that is just the men, add in the top women riders – and also the track, BMX and even the trials – and you have an event that any cycling enthusiast would be keen to add to their bucket list, just to watch.

But, as an amateur you can also take part because amateurs will also have their chance to claim a world title in the Gran Fondo World Championships (basically it is an amateur World Championship with riders qualifying via 25 mass participation events held in various cities all over the world).

For now there are some world champs not included in the 2023 event in Scotland.

The Cyclo Cross Worlds is the biggest omission, while the World Masters Mountain Bike Champs could possibly be included in future events.

And of course the next question to be asked is: Where could the combined World Champs be held in South Africa?

I would suggest the Western Cape is the obvious answer with Stellenbosch and Cape Town the first choice.

But I also like the idea the idea of the events being held in KwaZuluNatal as well.

So, South Africa in 2027? Maybe, if we can get Cycling South Africa to sort out their administrative turmoil before then we may have a chance.

What South Africa could do is follow the lead of the UCI and hold a combined National Champs. I am sure they would get an increase in participation and media coverage by holding all the national champs at one venue over a week or two.