The UCI World Championships are currently taking place in Doha. While Qatar may not be one of the traditional homes of cycling, the UCI have decided to send the 2019 Championships to a venue that will be thronged with fans.
Yorkshire is to host the Championships in three years time. It will be the first time the United Kingdom has hosted the week-long event since 1982, when it was held at Goodwood.
The Tour de France began in Yorkshire in 2014, which helped revitalise the sport in the region. Such was the success of the 2014 Grand Depart, Tour de France organisers have created the Tour de Yorkshire, which has ran in 2015 and 2016.
Ireland have never hosted the World Championships, and Nicolas Roche proclaimed his delight at Yorkshire getting the hosting rights, as it may never come to Ireland.
Great news about worlds going to @Welcome2Yorks in 2019! Will be difficult to get closer to ireland. I expect massive turn-up!
— nicholas roche (@nicholasroche) October 12, 2016
“Since hosting the Tour de France’s Grand Départ in 2014 and subsequent Tours de Yorkshire, the county has proved it is a fitting host for road cycling’s leading annual event and we are sure there will be world class crowds to match", UCI President Brian Cookson added.
Yorkshire has been confirmed as the 2019 host for the @UCI_cycling Road World Championships. #Yorkshire2019 pic.twitter.com/FhofI1Wc1Y
— Yorkshire 2019 (@Yorkshire2019) October 12, 2016
