The UCI has confirmed that the 2014 Road World Championships will be staying in Spain as originally planned. In September, the governing body had given organisers in Ponferrada in the northwest of the country 30 days to provide guarantees related to their staging the event.
There had been fears that the event would fall victim to Spain’s ongoing economic crisis, but the UCI is satisfied for now at least that the championships, due to take place from 20-28 September 2014, are no longer at risk.
“I am delighted to confirm that the Ponferrada organisers have responded quickly and efficiently to our request, providing us with the financial and organisational guarantees that we required,” said UCI President Mr Pat McQuaid.
“We can now look forward with confidence to the 2014 UCI Road World Championships in one of our traditional cycling nations.”
However, the UCI added that today’s confirmation was made “on the condition that remaining guarantees are forthcoming.”
Spain last hosted the world championships in 2005 in Madrid, where Belgium’s Tom Boonen and Australia’s Michael Rogers won, respectively, the men’s road race and time trial.
The women’s road race was won by Regina Schleicher of Germany, while Karin Thürig of Switzerland was victorious in the time trial.
Spanish riders took silver in three of those four events – Alejandro Valverde in the men’s road race and Ivan Gutierrez in the time trial, and Joane Somarriba in the women’s time trial.
Great Britain’s Nicole Cooke won silver in the women’s road race.
The UK has had a few black cycling champions. Not long after Maurice was gaining recognition on the track, Charlie Reynolds, also from South London...
With motoring, society has chosen to use insurance companies to cover the costs of driver mistakes, but the companies are going to try to avoid the...
As I highlighted in one of the blogs this week, there is no driver behaviour that people will not defend....
There is little moderation....
Indeed and a thumbs-up. BUT ......
For those who only bike-fly once or twice a year, rental is a great option. There's a guy in Marlow on Thames (for example) that I've used. He's...
Common sense at last
And tandems...
Car crashes into wall behind Natwest in Winchester https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/24216676.photos-car-crashes-wa...
One way to find out is to put a member of the driver's family on the bike and ask them to repeat the manoeuvre.