The Stirling area will stage the Individual Time Trials from Wednesday 9 August to Friday 11 August for all categories - Men Elite, Women Elite, U23 Men and Men and Women Juniors.
Covering up to 48km of roads, the Individual Time Trials will see riders set off from the King and Queen’s Knot in the shadow of Stirling Castle, before heading out west into the countryside and looping back into Stirling’s historic city centre, with a sprint finish through the city to the finish on the Castle esplanade.
The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will be the single biggest cycling event in history, involving more than 8000 athletes from 120 countries, with the 13 existing UCI Cycling World Championships brought together into one mega event for the first time.
The anticipated one billion global TV audience will place the event in the top-10 most watched sporting events in the world, rivalling the Olympics and Commonwealth Games and placing Scotland and Stirling on the world stage as a destination for elite cycling and cycle tourism.
Incredibly exciting
Stirling Council Leader, Cllr Chris Kane said: “It’s incredibly exciting that we are only two months away from the start of the Individual Time Trials on 9 August.
“These exhilarating events will see the Stirling area take centre stage in front of a huge global audience and attract visitors from all over the world to watch the action for free from the roadside.
“It will deliver an immediate economic boost to Stirling as people spend their money in our cafes, restaurants, bars, shops, hotels and attractions. This unique sporting spectacle will also provide a wide range of lasting economic benefits to the area by bringing more visitors, including cyclists, to Stirling in the future.
“Hosting the Individual Time Trials will also inspire more people of all ages and abilities to embrace the power of the bike and enjoy more active and healthy lives
“We can’t wait to welcome the world to Stirling and Scotland.”
Celebration of cycling
Trudy Lindblade, CEO of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships said: “We’re thrilled to partner with Stirling Council to deliver the Individual Time Trial Road World Championships and provide a truly memorable experience for the athletes and local community this August.
“The route will showcase the stunning countryside across the region, and the rich heritage of the city including the steep climb through the Old Town to the finish line, in the shadows of Stirling Castle.
“We encourage the Stirling community and surrounding regions to join us in this celebration of cycling, and witness history as we bring 13 UCI World Championships together for the very first time and showcase Stirling and Scotland to the world.”
To ensure the Individual Time Trials can take place safely, certain roads will be closed for extended periods.
Letters have been issued to impacted residents and businesses while relevant community councils and community groups have also been contacted.
Community drop-in sessions have been held with communities along the route and more are planned. Further direct communications with residents and businesses will also take place.
Regular and open dialogue
Cllr Kane continued: “We thank everyone who has come along to the drop-in sessions so far and we hope they have found them helpful and informative. All the event partners are committed to continue engagement with communities affected by the Individual Time Trials and the other road races ahead of the events.
“Regular and open dialogue will help minimise disruption and allow our residents and businesses to maximise the exciting opportunities for involvement during this sporting festival.”
Road Races and more information on the event
Three of the Road Races at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will also pass through the Stirling area – Men Elite (Sunday 6 August), U23 Men (Saturday 12 August) and Elite Women (Sunday 13 August).
The Men Elite will start in Edinburgh and finish in Glasgow city centre, taking in the Carron Valley and Fintry, while the U23 Men and Women Elite will start in Balloch at the foot of Loch Lomond, before heading towards Drymen, Balfron and Fintry, with riders also crossing the line in Glasgow city centre.
These races will require short-term rolling road closures and affected residents and businesses will receive direct communications from event partners. Drop-in sessions will also be organised with affected communities.
More information is available at www.stirling.gov.uk/ucichamps and the full event schedule can be accessed by visiting: www.cyclingworldchamps.com.