Harrogate revealed as main host town for Yorkshire World Championships in 2019

Harrogate will be the main competition town and the finish location for each race in the 2019 World Championships held in Yorkshire. Race start locations have also been proposed in Beverley, Doncaster, Leeds, Northallerton, Ripon, and York.

Yorkshire won the right to host the 2019 UCI Road World Championships after a joint bid between Welcome to Yorkshire, British Cycling and UK Sport and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The government has committed £24m to the event, £15 million of which will be used to develop 27 cycle sport facilities across the UK. There will also be £3m of National Lottery funding from UK Sport.

Taking place over nine days, the World Championships comprises men’s, women’s and junior road races and time trials. Harrogate will host two circuit races and other races will start in locations across Yorkshire.

Sir Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said: “We are delighted to announce our intention to start the UCI Road World Championship races in 2019 in all four corners of Yorkshire making sure the races take in the full splendour of this beautiful and diverse county.”

Somewhat confusingly deploying the word ‘unprecedented’ shortly before citing two different precedents, he added: “This is an unprecedented opportunity to showcase Yorkshire to the world and I have no doubt that every town and village on the final routes will be ready with their famous Yorkshire welcome as seen for the Tour de France and now each year for the Tour de Yorkshire.”

Sports Minister Tracey Crouch, said: "The 2019 UCI Road World Championships will be a fantastic event that will see the very best cyclists competing for the coveted rainbow jersey with Yorkshire's stunning scenery as the backdrop.

“I know that people from across Yorkshire and beyond will support this event and the riders will receive a fantastic reception. Hosting the Championships gives us a great opportunity to leave a legacy for the sport at the grassroots, with £15m of government investment to build facilities and encourage participation across the country."

Welcoming that investment, Julie Harrington, CEO of British Cycling, said: “Today’s announcement will generate huge anticipation across Yorkshire and it is also an exciting day for the rest of the country thanks to the £15m national investment in cycle sport facilities.

“At British Cycling we judge the success of major events not only in medals won or in numbers watching but by people being inspired to get active by getting on a bike. The landmark facilities investment secured by British Cycling means a national legacy has been built into the championships from the start and marks all of the stakeholders in this event as pioneers, setting a new standard for the hosting of major sporting events.”