Proud Hosts of the Championships
One of Scotland’s most renowned mountain bike locations will welcome the world’s biggest ever cycling event this August, after being named as a host venue for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.
Glentress Forest in the Tweed Valley will see some of the world’s best mountain bike riders tackle its famous terrain when it hosts the Mountain Bike Cross-country and Mountain Bike Cross-country Marathon as part of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, which are being held in venues across Scotland this summer. You can get your tickets now.
The Glentress trails have seen local, national, and international races over the years, as well as having a reputation as a breeding ground for world-class riders. The Championships will be the first time Glentress Forest will have staged an event of such international magnitude, despite having legendary status among mountain bike enthusiasts as one of the famed 7Stanes trail centres.
World's biggest cycling event
The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will see 13 existing UCI World Championships combined for the first time to create one mega event. Taking place across 11 days from 3-13 August 2023, more than a million spectators are anticipated as well as a global television audience of around one billion, making it one of the world’s top 10 sporting events.
The Scottish Borders has a proud history of producing some of the country’s best mountain bike riders. Having the honour of being part of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will showcase the venue and the Scottish Borders to the world, raising its profile as a must-visit destination among the international cycling and active-traveller community.
The Championships at Glentress Forest are supported by ourselves, Forestry and Land Scotland, and South of Scotland Enterprise.The events are being delivered by Tweed Valley-based ESO Sports.
More about the Championships
The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will welcome more than 8,000 amateur and elite cyclists from more than 120 countries with more than 190 UCI World Champions crowned.
The 13 disciplines included in the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships are: BMX Freestyle Flatland; BMX Freestyle Park; BMX Racing; Gran Fondo; Indoor Cycling; Mountain Bike Cross-country; Mountain Bike Downhill; Mountain Bike Cross-country Marathon; Para-cycling Road; Para-cycling Track; Road; Track; Trials.
Since the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, participation sessions at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome have experienced positive uptake and the number of people engaged with cycling activities has risen across Scotland. It is hoped the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships can continue to increase pedal power in Scotland, inspiring the next generation of riders across a variety of cycling disciplines.
The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships are being delivered in collaboration between the UCI, Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council, UK Sport, British Cycling, Glasgow Life and VisitScotland.