The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has chosen Host Broadcast Services (HBS) to serve as host broadcaster of the 2015 UCI Track Cycling World Championships, which will be held in the Parisian suburb of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines from 18 to 22 February. 

For the first time in the event’s history, its production will feature live onboard cameras. 

HBS will operate more than 13 cameras at the event with a team of 72 staff. HBS has appointed Euro Media France to provide the technical platform.

The HDTV signal will be provided to broadcasters worldwide. The UCI and its exclusive media rights partner Infront Sports & Media have distributed the rights to more than 100 countries and territories. Over 300 media representatives are accredited onsite.

For the first time ever at a UCI Track Cycling World Championships, miniaturised cameras installed on the bicycles’ saddle tubes will transmit live images of the race to viewers worldwide, as well as to the Velodrome’s giant screen.

“The team and I are all delighted to be part of the 2015 Championships and excited by the enthusiasm and innovations HBS and the UCI have brought to the sport,” said Steve Docherty, event director at HBS. “It’s always a thrill to be able to do something unprecedented.”

The live on-board cameras will be used in various events over the five days of the competition. The cameras will be installed on competition bikes, feeding live images to the production truck located just outside the venue.

Radio frequency (RF) transmission experts Broadcast RF will supply the cameras, transmitters, specialised operators and bring their technical partner VideoSys Broadcast. 

Following initial research and development focused on making the camera and RF transmitter as safe, compact and light as possible, HBS organised a number of tests served to establish the project’s viability. 

The French National Team participated in the first of these tests, with a second one taking place at the UCI’s headquarters in Aigle, Switzerland. The combined weight of the camera and transmitter has been reduced from 300 grams to just 199 grams.

“The live on-board camera is the angle that has been missing from track cycling coverage, and it’s one that will delight both the hardcore fans and viewers new to the sport,” says HBS’ director or production Dan Miodownik.

“Getting to this point requires significant technical integration, but with the expertise from our technical partner Broadcast RF and the commitment and vision from UCI, we are ready to bring something completely new to track cycling coverage.”

HBS provided broadcast consultancy and on-site support for the last two editions of the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, in Minsk, Belarus and Cali, Colombia. 

A fully owned subsidiary of Infront Sports & Media, HBS works on many other events and has been host broadcaster of FIFA World Cup since 2002.

UCI president Brian Cookson told French daily newspaper l’Equipe that the governing body would not renew the four-year contract with Global Cycling Promotion, which promotes the event, beyond this year’s season finale from October 10-14.

The newspaper said that the race is worth about €500,000 ($640,000) to the UCI every year, but Cookson added: “There are other opportunities for financial returns.

“The main thing is that we believe that we do not intend to be a major organiser of cycling races. It is the function of others. Ours is to grow the sport and help its components.”

Beijing became Asia’s first event on the WorldTour calendar in 2011.

Cookson added that the UCI had been in talks with Global Cycling Promotion “for some time”, but added: “They have other goals and want to do different things. We too want to do something different.”

In confirming the calendar for the 2015 WorldTour at its annual meeting in Ponferrada, Spain, the UCI announced that the series would once again start with the Tour Down Under in Australia in January before travelling to Europe in March, starting with Paris-Nice in France.

The schedule will conclude in early October with the Giro di Lombardia in Italy, with the absence of the Tour of Beijing being the only major change to the calendar in comparison with this year.

“As we are getting close to the last two events in the 2014 UCI WorldTour, Il Lombardia and the Tour of Beijing, we can all reflect on what has been a fantastic season which demonstrated some tangible proof of the global growth of the UCI WorldTour,” Cookson added.

“We are convinced that the UCI WorldTour has now entered a new and exciting era.”

Bergen overcame competition from Innsbruck, Austria; Melbourne, Australia and the Colombian capital Bogota.

The 84th staging of the UCI Road Worlds will take place from September 17-24, 2017 and Bergen’s successful candidature was confirmed at the 2014 championship in Ponferrada.

The Spanish city will wrap up this year’s event on Sunday, before it heads to Richmond, USA and the Qatari city of Doha in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

Speaking to the Procycling.no website, UCI president Brian Cookson hailed Bergen for producing “by far the best application” out of the four that the governing body received.

He added: “We are very pleased that Bergen has delivered a strong application and we know the city will deliver what it has have promised, As with all international federations, we require host cities to have the money and resources to do a good job with the championship. 

“We are looking for a place where cycling is strong, has the potential for growth and can help strengthen cycling’s reputation. But most of all we are looking for candidates that can host an excellent event for riders, fans and the teams that work around the riders.”

Elsewhere, the UCI has awarded three more of its flagship events.

The 2016 World Cycle Tour Final will be staged in Perth, Australia, while the 2017 editions of the Cyclo-cross World Championships and MTB Marathon World Championships are to take place in Sanem, Luxembourg and Singen, Germany respectively.

The hosting decisions were reached at a two-day meeting of the UCI Management Committee and Cookson said: “I am delighted that we are taking cycling to even more people around the world. All these developments show the direction we are heading and, while there is still much to do, we are beginning to see the benefits of our efforts to restore trust in the UCI.”

Earlier in the week, the UCI announced that the season-ending Tour of Beijing has been left off the 2015 WorldTour road race calendar.

[Source: Sport Event Denmark] The UCI Gran Fondo Svendborg 2024 was an unforgettable cycling event with 1,700 entries. The race, held on the weekend of June 8-9, featured fantastic cycling, with participants also getting the chance to qualify for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships 2024, to be staged in Aalborg, Denmark from August 28 to September 1.

More than just a race, UCI Gran Fondo Svendborg was a celebration that brought together cycling enthusiasts of all levels. The event evolved over the weekend, ending in heavy rain and hail. Despite the harsh weather on Sunday, many riders expressed their plans to return, especially in better weather.

"I've got diamonds in my legs. It was just my kind of weather! We had plenty of rain, hail, wind, and sun. It wasn't for the faint-hearted. The route was fantastic and well-organised," said TV chef Claus Holm, who cycled the Medio Fondo with friends.

Jesper Tikøb, Event Director, Danish Cycling Federation, highlighted the importance of the event: "We have a great interest in all aspects of cycling. We are pleased to contribute to both national and international cycling experiences for riders of all ages and levels. Events like the UCI Gran Fondo allow us to involve local clubs, ensuring they become part of these major events. The support from the host city and Sport Event Denmark is also indispensable."

Sport Event Denmark also expressed satisfaction with the event's execution: "Denmark has showcased our unique cycling DNA through these UCI Gran Fondo races, where both amateur and professional riders take centre stage," said Lars Lundov, CEO of Sport Event Denmark.

UCI Gran Fondo Svendborg is a testament to the thriving cycling culture in Denmark. We now look forward to the World Championships in Aalborg, where many of Svendborg's participants will compete for world titles.

UCI Gran Fondo Svendborg was organised by the Danish Cycling Federation in collaboration with Svendborg Municipality, Destination Fyn, and Sport Event Denmark.

Facts about UCI Gran Fondo Svendborg:

1,700 entries, with 259 in Saturday's time trial.

Participants from 31 nations.

The top 25% in each category qualified for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Aalborg from August 28 to September 1.

Over 100 volunteers ensured a smooth event.

The event took a step towards greener practices by not distributing goodie bags. Prizes were limited to a bouquet of flowers for all winners, and the top 3 finishers received a bag of mixed flower seeds to promote environmental sustainability. Participants were encouraged to plant these seeds to foster a greener future.

Rupert Dickinson, Alexandra Innes, David Hornby, Nick Peel and Susan Ahern all joined the 2023 Board in September, bringing with them a breadth of experience from across a range of specialisms and sectors including financial services and investment, consultancy, legal and legislative affairs, media, retail development and real estate. Rupert has also been appointed the Senior Independent Director and will be responsible for chairing the Audit and Risk Committee.

Five-times BMX and Track Cycling World Champion, Shanaze Reade, will also be joining the Board in October as a Co-Opted Board Member. Her years of experience competing at the international level will be hugely valuable to the group and the delivery of the Championships.

Commenting on the appointments, Paul Bush OBE, Chair of 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, said: “On behalf of the 2023 Board, I would like to congratulate and welcome our six new members. Their individual experience and expertise across a range of sectors and specialisms will be invaluable to the successful delivery of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow and across Scotland.

“The Championships will be a catalyst for change and progress in Scotland in making cycling part of the normal, everyday lives of people and the announcement of Shanaze and the Non-Executive Directors is a key milestone on this journey. I look forward to working with all them over the next three years.”

The Non-Executive Directors join the nominated Directors from each of principle funder and host partner organisations. They are:

•             Paul Bush OBE (Chair), VisitScotland

•             Billy Garrett, Glasgow Life

•             Danielle Every, British Cycling

•             Colin Edgar, Glasgow City Council

•             Stewart Harris, sportscotland

•             Steven Elworthy MBE, UK Sport

•             Bettina Sizeland, Scottish Government

The announcement of the new board members comes as the recruitment process for the three senior positions of Director of Sport, Director of Operations and Director of Commercial, Marketing and Communications at the Championships commenced this week.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and working closely with the UCI, each position will be responsible for devising and implementing the plans for their respective areas of responsibility and ensuring they meet the event’s policy ambitions.

[Source: EventScotland] In three years, Glasgow and Scotland will open its arms and welcome the whole of the cycling world to its shores for the biggest single global cycling event in history – the inaugural 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.

The vision of UCI President, David Lappartient, this historic and innovative event will bring together 13 existing individual World Championship cycling disciplines into one mega event for the first time.

However, the Championships is more than just an event and to mark the three-year milestone, a video showcasing the ambition and vision of the event has been released celebrating the unique power of the bike and all it can bring to our lives.

The humble bike has the power to help with so many aspects of everyday life, whether it’s physical and mental health, easing congestion on the road to help the environment, or simply making it easier for people to get around.

The video celebrates the uniqueness of the bike by showing cycling is not only a sport but also a leisure activity and a mode of transport; making it something that everyone can watch and enjoy but also participate in – whatever their age or motivation.

Underpinned by four key policy drivers – participation, transport, tourism and economy - the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will be a catalyst for behavioural change across Scotland from now until long after the event. By working in collaboration with cycling and wider partners to amplify and unify their existing work and activity, it will give everyone the opportunity to experience the freedom riding a bike can bring to your life. 

Paul Bush OBE, Chair of 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “On behalf of all the partners – Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life, UK Sport and British Cycling – I am excited to share our vision and ambition for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships as we mark the three-year milestone until the event.

“From the outset, we knew we wanted to turn the traditional event delivery model on its head and put our policy ambitions for cycling in Scotland at the centre of our decision-making process alongside event delivery.

“By working in collaboration with cycling and wider partners to champion the unique power of the bike, the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will not only be a great event that reinforces Scotland’s reputation as the perfect stage for events, it will also be a catalyst for significant change and progress in Scotland – continuing to transform the nation and make cycling part of the normal, everyday lives of everyone.”

Since the event was awarded to Glasgow and Scotland last year, the world has united to face the threat and huge disruption of COVID-19 and while we continue to deal with the global pandemic and the tragedies that have unfolded, the increased use of bikes during the lockdown, has provided a vision of a future where the bike can provide solutions to issues such as congestion, pollution, health and fitness, and mobility.

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “It’s testament to our reputation in staging major events that Scotland will host the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, the biggest global cycling event in history. This new event gives us a great opportunity to use the power of the bike to help meet our transport, health and environmental aims, as well as supporting the events industry through its recovery.

“As part of Scotland’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we have seen thousands of people embrace the benefits of cycling, and I hope that the excitement generated as we build up to this major event will encourage even more people to get active on their bikes.”

The release of the video also reaffirms the commitment of the key partners – UCI, Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life, UK Sport, British Cycling, and VisitScotland together with its EventScotland team – to create a blueprint for how future events can be delivered taking policy led approach.

UCI President David Lappartient said: “This unique project for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships carries with it the values of unity, sharing and openness, which are particularly relevant in the current troubled period due to the global health situation. Three years out from this mega event, which will bring together athletes from all disciplines in front of a large and enthusiastic audience from Scotland (Great Britain) and further afield, the UCI joins the organisers in celebrating this significant date in the countdown to what promises to be a one-of-a-kind cycling festival.”

Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council said: “As a top five sporting city and world-leading festival and events destination, Glasgow is looking forward to welcoming thousands of athletes, participants, and spectators to our incredible city in three years’ time.

“The inaugural 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will allow us to once again showcase Glasgow and Scotland on a global stage, further cementing our position as the perfect location for major events. However, more importantly, the event will also provide local cycling activation and a range of programmes for people to get involved in cycling and celebrate the power of the bike.

“We’re looking forward to the journey with all event partners over the next three years as we prepare to welcome the first-ever 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.”

Simon Morton, COO of UK Sport, said: “We are proud of our role in helping to bring major sporting events to the UK and I’m excited that our position as a destination of choice for world class competitions is continuing with what will undoubtedly prove an exciting spectacle for fans at home and abroad.

“Seeing the world’s elite cyclists competing in Scotland so soon after a hugely successful World Championships in Yorkshire last year will be a very special moment. I am convinced this event will provide a huge boost to cycling as a sport while also helping to create sporting moments which allow us to reach, inspire and unite more people across Scotland and beyond.” 

British Cycling Chair, Frank Slevin, said: “At British Cycling we know that major events provide a wonderful platform from which we can inspire so many more people to get on their bikes, whether that’s to race, ride with friends or simply get around. With just three years to go until the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, we are looking forward to working with our fellow event partners to ensure that the energy, enthusiasm and legacy of the Championships is felt all across Scotland for many years to come.”

Source: EventScotland] Applications for the position of Chief Executive Officer of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships close at midnight this Friday (24 January).
 
The successful candidate will have overall executive responsibility for the Championships by leading a world-class team in the planning and delivery of the event. The role requires strong leadership experience, a multi-disciplinary track record of overseeing mega sporting events, outstanding stakeholder relationships, an understanding of operating within public sector organisations, and an entrepreneurial spirit.
 
Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, said: “This is an exciting next step in the setting up of the organisation that will organise and deliver the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships here in Glasgow and Scotland. The Championships will be the biggest cycling event ever to take place, combining 13 existing individual cycling world championships into one mega event for the first time and needs a world-class leadership team to deliver our vision and ambition for the event. So, if you think you have what it takes to be part of the biggest cycling event in history then we want to hear from you before this Friday's deadline.”

Apply here

Host City: What are your expectations of Host City 2019 and its theme of “Innovate, Reformulate, Co-Create”?

David Lappartient: For an International Federation such as ours, with its extremely varied and packed international calendar, Host City provides a meeting place where the organisers of major events and host cities, regions, and countries can come together. We are delighted to be playing a part this year, alongside the EBU.

The theme of this year’s event,"Innovate, Reformulate, Co-Create", ties in perfectly with our philosophy. In line with our strategic roadmap, Agenda 2022, we are striving to increase the appeal of our sport, which could well involve changing or launching new formats. As well as better meeting the expectations of broadcasters and the public, these formats can, as part of our activities, more effectively respond to today’s key social issues, such as the promotion of gender equality, and make a contribution to a sustainable future.

Host City: What is the rationale and inspiration behind combining all the different cycling disciplines in one single UCI Cycling World Championships that will be hosted for the first time in Scotland in 2023?

David Lappartient: We want to bring all our best athletes together for a single event held at one venue every four years, in the year before the Olympics: the UCI Cycling World Championships, which will celebrate virtually all of our disciplines.

In 2023, more than 2,600 cyclists in 13 disciplines and representing 120 countries will fight it out for the legendary rainbow jersey. It will be an amazing sporting event for the athletes and a memorable festival of cycling for the people of Glasgow and Scotland and for visitors.

Host City: How important was partnership work in creating this new event? Who were the main players involved and how did you work together to achieve this outcome?

David Lappartient: There is no question that this mega event, which is without precedent in the history of our sport, presents us with a massive yet exciting challenge. The competitions will take place at venues both inside and outside the city, indoors and outdoors, including roads, which involves managing traffic.

And when it comes to hosting the athletes, national delegations, TV crews, media and the fans, it takes a great deal of coordination and a close partnership between the stakeholders – the UCI, the organisers, the host broadcaster, the local and national authorities, and many others besides.

Therefore, the expertise available amongst all the host partners in delivering major events of this nature was extremely attractive to the UCI as the event owner.  The leadership of the Scottish Government and their attitude to being innovative and willingness to take on the challenge of the first edition of a new event has been vital to the success of the project. 

Host City: We have seen how hosting major cycling events has driven a surge in participation in the sport in Yorkshire. Do you anticipate similar increase in Scotland following the championships there?

David Lappartient: Absolutely. Scotland is a hotbed of cycling that has produced some great champions. The likes of Graeme Obree, David Millar, Chris Hoy, Craig Maclean (now a coach at the UCI World Cycling Centre), Callum Skinner, Katie Archibald and her team pursuit colleague Neah Evans, Jack Carlin and Neil Flachie have all made history in our sport.

Glasgow, which is a regular destination for the UCI Track World Cup, receives regular praise for actively promoting elite cycling and cycling for all. In recognition of that and the work it does to encourage people of all ages to get out and ride, we awarded it the UCI Bike City Label in 2019. Our mega event will allow Glasgow and Scotland to move to the next level in the development of cycling as a means of transport, a health-enhancing activity, and a leisure pursuit.  

Host City: There is a very interesting partnership between the UCI and Zwift, who are mapping UCI events onto their active esports platform. Can you tell me a bit about the benefits of this partnership to the UCI?

David Lappartient: Cycling Esports presents a wonderful opportunity to develop cycling. It is a new way of practising our fast-growing sport that enables more athletes of all levels to train and take part in competitions, regardless of the weather outside and where they live. It is also an engaging way of improving people’s health by encouraging them to cycle indoors whatever their surroundings, such as urban environments or areas where people cannot cycle due to the terrain.

In teaming up with Zwift, our Federation can reach out to a new and fast-growing community and increase the appeal of our sport by bringing this new discipline into the fold. In the meantime, it can also bring in the necessary safeguards to ensure that competitions are founded on integrity and credibility.

Come to Host City 2019 on 26-27 November to hear UCI President David Lappartient and Eurovision Sport’s Head of Cycling Frederic Sanz’ keynote Case in Point: “Co-creating the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships”