sporting event like no other”

On behalf of UK Sport, I am delighted to welcome you to the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Scotland. Glasgow is where I was born and went to school, so it holds a very special place in my heart. With five venues in the city I hope you will feel the special passion, energy and spirit that thrives here. The other locations are visually spectacular so wherever you are supporting, I know fans will have a fantastic time.

Looking back, 2022 was a truly memorable year as the UK hosted a record-breaking Women’s European Football Championships, a groundbreaking Rugby League World Cup and an exciting Gymnastics World Championships in the great city of Liverpool, with Birmingham also playing host to an incredible Commonwealth Games.

I’m excited that we continue to lead the way in 2023 as we welcome thousands of the world’s best cyclists to Scotland to compete in 13 UCI World Championships. This event showcases the UK’s ambition to host the most innovative and exciting events in the global sporting calendar that inspire and unite the nation. I hope that you enjoy the next few days of world class competition and extraordinary sporting moments.

As we celebrate the power of the bike, we hope that the Championships encourages people across the UK to get back in the saddle and enjoy the transformative effects sport can have on all of us, no matter our ability.

We each have our own connection to the humble bicycle, and the reasons we take to the saddle are as unique as the roads we ride on. From first timers to hardy pros, each story is different - but all are bridged by one undeniable constant: the power of the bike uring one of the toughest times in her life, Jenny found the strength to carry on through cycling. She now helps spread the positive and lifechanging benefits of getting out on a bike, through a platform that champions equality, diversity and inclusion. Jenny is a leader of women-only Breeze bike rides, organised by British Cycling.

“I think [in cycling] women are missing out hugely. It can be really intimidating being a woman in cycling, so being able to join a group where you leave with a smile and feel confident

“I was 28 when I got my cancer diagnosis. It was really hard, but I found consistency in cycling. It made me feel like me again, and I felt free. I volunteer because I want to give back exactly what I got from cycling, so that others can enjoy it and get the same sense of freedom.

“Breeze rides are women-only rides. It’s really easy to get involved, you sign up for free and anyone can join. As long as you have a bike, you can come along. I think it’s much more about the community and the social aspect than just getting out on your bike. That sense of community is really embedded in Breeze rides.

“The main aim of Breeze is to encourage women to have confidence to cycle. No matter if you’re on a trike or a recumbent, cycling doesn’t discriminate, it’s available to everyone.”