Glasgow leaders hails UCI Cycling World Championships a 'huge success'

The event had 500,000 spectators who watched in the streets or the city’s five cycling competition venues.

Now, the leader of Glasgow City Council, Susan Aitken, declared it had been a magnificent 11 days for the city. 

She said: "From the first race to the last; riders, fans and officials have been telling us that the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will go down in history as not only the biggest but one of the greatest ever held.

"The UCI approached Glasgow to pioneer this new ‘super’ World Championships because they understood what a great events city this is; what an amazing passion for sport it has – and they knew we were the safest pair of safe hands when it came to making it all work.

"The faith they showed in Glasgow to host a truly global event was remarkable and I’m delighted the city has been able to repay that faith so emphatically – surpassing their expectations and even our own.

"The sport has been fiercely competitive, with racers needing to be at the very peak of their powers to be in contention for medals – and it has drawn huge audiences, on the road, in venues and across the world on television.

"There is nowhere quite like Glasgow when it comes to creating an atmosphere and people who are ready to throw themselves into an event, heart and soul.

"For Glasgow, the last 11 days has demonstrated that The Power of the Bike is making an already great city more vibrant and healthier; accessible, active and connected."

Bailie Annette Christie, chair of Glasgow Life commended the contribution of the 1,800 fabulous volunteers, known as the Champs Clan, who played a vital role in supporting everything that went on at competition venues and across the city.

She said: "Major events like this simply couldn’t operate without these wonderful individuals who give so generously of their time to support others and the unique personality and energy they bring to the event.

"We will look to capitalise on the skills these volunteers have at future city events and, from speaking to lots of them over the last two weeks, I know they will benefit personally from this special experience."

Glasgow is the first UK city to be awarded UCI Bike City status which recognises cities and regions which host major UCI cycling events and invest in developing community cycling and related infrastructure and programmes. 

There is now a total of 415.8km of cycling infrastructure in the city and in the past five years, £42m has been invested. 

Councillor Angus Millar, City Convener for Transport, said: "The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships have been a superb advert for cycling in Glasgow and across Scotland as a whole. The past week has been a unique opportunity to see world-class competitors at close hands and they have helped to create a real buzz about cycling in the city.

"In the last year alone, we have seen significant progress on our plans for a comprehensive City Network of safe, segregated cycling infrastructure across the city.  

"Glasgow secured a UK first in 2019 when it was awarded UCI Bike City Status for its commitment to cycling and it’s a status that we are determined to live up to long after the cycling world championships are over."