The road routes for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships have been revealed and will take competitiors on a journey past Scotland’s iconic landmarks.
The highly anticipated event will take place in Glasgow and across Scotland, and will bring together 13 existing UCI World Championships for the first time ever.
Some of the world’s best cyclists will get the chance to race past Edinburgh Castle, Arthur’s Seat, the Wallace Monument, The Kelpies, and the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond before the finish line at Glasgow’s George Square.
The mega-event will take place between August 3-13, 2023.
An announcement made at the 2022 UCI Road World Championships in Wollongong, Australia, declared Edinburgh and Loch Lomond to be the starting locations and official venues for the Elite and Under 23 categories of the road races next year.
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On arrival in Glasgow, the cyclists will tackle a 14.4 technical city circuit with punchy short climbs totalling 193 metres of climbing per lap before the finish at George Square.
The Men Elite will cover a distance of 277km with 3167m of climbing, and the Women Elite, including the Women Under 23 category, will race 157km with 1930m of climbing.
The Men Elite road race on Sunday, August 6, 2023, will start at Arthur’s Seat before progressing through Edinburgh’s Old Town near Edinburgh Castle before crossing the Firth of Forth and taking in the coastline of Fife.
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Riders, spectators, and a global TV audience will be invited to take in the views as the events progress, including The Kelpies and the National Wallace Monument, before riders embark on the popular cycling route of Crow Road on the way to a technical circuit in Glasgow and the finish line at George Square.
The Women Elite, Women Under 23, and Men Under 23 road races will start along the banks of Loch Lomond with the peloton leaving the gateway to the Trossachs National Park and heading towards Fintry.
Riders will then climb as they pass through Stirlingshire and then on to East Dunbartonshire, following the route before the final 62km Glasgow circuit.
The Glasgow portion of the road race begins in the West End and promises to show off Glasgow monuments such as Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow Cathedral, the Gallery of Modern Art, Kelvingrove Museum, and the University of Glasgow before the finish line at George Square.
The road race for Men Under 23 takes place on Saturday, August 12, 2023, and the Women Elite road race, which includes the Women Under 23 category, closes the inaugural competition on the Sunday.
Paul Bush, chair of the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds, said: “The announcement of Edinburgh and Loch Lomond as starting venues for the inaugural 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships further demonstrate this is truly a pan-Scotland event for everyone to come along and enjoy.
“Glasgow and Scotland are global leaders in the delivery of innovative and world-class major events.
“Set against the backdrop of some of the country’s most iconic and spectacular cities and locations, these historic championships are sure to capture the imagination of athletes, spectators and audiences around the world and showcase why we are the perfect stage for events.”
Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “The road race events at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will be a real highlight of our sporting calendar with stars from across the continent competing.
“The great road races of France, Spain and Italy all showcase their cities and countryside to massive audiences, and I am sure these events will do the same for Glasgow and our neighbours.
“Including these events as part of the competition schedule gives sports fans a fantastic opportunity to see elite riders race past their doorsteps, this summer - for free.”
The Junior Road races take place on the Glasgow circuit on Saturday, August 5, with the Junior Men completing nine laps (129km) and the Junior Women completing five laps (72km).
The Team Time Trial Mixed Relay will take place on Tuesday, August 8, on the Glasgow circuit but with an extension around Glasgow Green.
Stirlingshire will host the Individual Time Trials from August 9 to 11.
For further information on the UCI Cycling World Championships, visit cyclingworldchamps.com.
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