Richmond to Bid on 2015 UCI Road World Championships
USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson (pictured) joined Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones in making the bid announcement.
The UCI Road World Championships attracts athletes from more than 70 nations across five continents and represents the most important road cycling event in the world for participating countries. More than 1,000 cyclists compete to wear the coveted world champion's "arc en ciel,” or rainbow jersey.
The World Championships attract more than 300,000 onsite spectators and is viewed by a global television audience of more than 300 million people. The 2010 Championships, held in Melbourne, Australia, generated tens of millions of dollars in economic impact to the host city.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for the United States, and the city of Richmond in particular,” said Mayor Jones. “Our city is centrally located and easy to access, offers great lodging and tourist attractions, and is a strong supporter of athletic and cultural events. There is no better place for the 2015 World Road Cycling Championships than right here in Richmond, Virginia.”
Richmond’s bid is supported by USA Cycling, the governing body for all disciplines of competitive cycling in the U.S.
“With the phenomenal growth of the sport in the United States over the last ten years it is time for the sport’s marquee event to be hosted in world-class American venue,” said USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson, who was present at today’s announcement. "Richmond’s efforts to bring cycling’s largest event back to American soil will not only be an opportunity to showcase one of the country’s most historic arenas to the world, but will also give hundreds of thousands of cycling fans in the Mid-Atlantic region the opportunity to witness the world’s best compete in one of the globe’s most popular sports.”
The bidding process for the prestigious event is highly competitive. If successful in its bid, Richmond will join cities including Rome, Madrid, Copenhagen and Florence that have hosted or will host the event. The winning city will be announced at the 2011 UCI Road World Championships and Annual World Congress in Copenhagen in September 2011.
“Having attended three previous world championships I understand the magnitude and prestige of this multi-cultural event,” said USA Cycling Professional Road Race National Champion and Virginia native Ben King, “Bringing that to the city where I was born would certainly be a defining opportunity and highlight of my cycling career.”
To view a recording of the webcast announcement, visit richmond2015.com.
About USA Cycling
Recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling is the official governing body for all disciplines of competitive cycling in the United States, including road, track, mountain bike, BMX and cyclo-cross. As a membership-based organization, USA Cycling comprises 66,500+ licensees; 2,200 clubs and teams; and 34 local associations. The national governing body sanctions 2,650 competitive and non-competitive events throughout the U.S. each year and is responsible for the identification, development, and support of American cyclists. To learn more about USA Cycling, visit www.usacycling.org.
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This Article Published December 21, 2010 For more information contact:
