Prime Minister Theresa May announces Yorkshire bid for 2019 UCI Road World Championships
Thursday 18 August 2016 11:36, UK
British Cycling have submitted a Government-backed bid to host the 2019 road world cycling championships in Yorkshire.
In partnership with Welcome to Yorkshire and UK Sport, a formal bid was this week submitted to cycling's governing body, the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale).
The region hosted the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2014, which generated approximately £128m in revenues and was watched by crowds of around 4.8m people.
Prime Minister Theresa May announced the bid in the Yorkshire Post on Thursday, with the Government set to back the application with significant investment to drive more tourism to the region and build a lasting cycling legacy.
"Yorkshire's beauty was brilliantly shown off to the world by cycling events like the Tour de France and the fantastic Tour de Yorkshire, led by Sir Gary Verity," said May.
"So today I can announce that we have backed a Yorkshire-led bid to bring cycling's World Road Championships to Britain.
"The government will underwrite the event and back it with £24m of investment so that we can get even more people to visit the region.
"Our backing will include £15 million for cycling infrastructure projects, to encourage even greater participation in the sport and continue the proud legacy that has seen our athletes excel at the Rio Games."
While London turned down the opportunity to host the Tour de France Grand Depart event in 2017, the Government's continued investment in cycling in the North can drive a lasting cycling legacy, according to British Cycling president Bob Howden.
"The UCI 2019 Road World Championships should find its natural home in Britain and in Yorkshire," said Howden.
"Britain has proved that when it gets behind major cycling events, it really does the nation proud.
"Not only would Yorkshire deliver a cycling event to rival the scenes we saw in 2014 (during the Tour de France Grand Depart), it promises to build on our fantastic legacy of getting more people to discover the joys of life on two wheels."
