THE NEXT GENERATION

Could your child be a UCI World Champion one day?

We want to encourage as many young people as possible to get on their bikes and discover the joy of racing. That’s why we’ve been working with Scottish Cycling to host the best part of 50 grassroots events taking place right up until October. Hosted by schools, clubs and community groups in every corner of Scotland, the events all centre around having fun and giving young riders their first taste of fast-paced cycling.

(SXC) 2023. On the thrilling trails at Comrie Croft in Perthshire, the Ride The Worlds Team delivered a fun race for Under 10 and Under 8 riders.

Among the many exciting events to follow, there was a skills-based session organised by the Galloway Hillbillies Bike Club in support of the UCI Gravel Series event at The Gralloch, and a special session at the grand opening of the West Lothian Cycle Circuit. We spoke to two of the young riders taking to the new route in Linlithgow…

“For people who are learning how to race or even learning how to ride, it will be really good because there’s no cars, no potholes, no gravel, nothing to worry about apart from you, the bike and learning your skills,” said Mairi, before speeding off on her own bike.

Local boy Rocco agreed. “I think it’s incredible,” he said. “It’s really good that they’re bringing

BELOW

(clockwise)

Budding cyclists at the Race The Worlds Pump Track qualifier in Kennoway; A rider in Hawick competes for a place in the Pump Track Final; Primary school pupils at Morrison’s Academy out for a ride in the local area something to Linlithgow because the only trails around here are Beecraigs. This is going to be good for young people getting into biking a lot more.”

Also at the launch event was Maree Todd MSP, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport. “This is a fabulous, off-road safe route that is suitable for people of all abilities, even tiny children,” she said. “There are some tiny children out on it today! It is an excellent asset and beautifully located in Scotland so people in the local area can use it, but so can folk from all over the central belt.”

Investing in the future

“We’re really proud that the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships have been the impetus for such a great legacy project here at the West Lothian Cycle Circuit,” said Trudy Lindblade, CEO of the

2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. “We know that there will be people for years to come using this facility, and we might even create the next champion from this very circuit.”

The West Lothian Cycle Circuit is just one of the exciting new projects funded by an £8 million Cycling Facilities Fund from the Scottish Government and sportscotland. We have also established our own Community Cycling Fund — as part of a joint initiative with EventScotland and sportscotland — to deliver grassroots initiatives creating lasting benefits for people across Scotland. A diverse range of community projects from mountain biking in the Highlands to a pump track in the Scottish Borders will share these funds to make their cycling dreams a reality.

An education in cycling

Scottish Cycling are also working in partnership with schools throughout Scotland to bring more opportunities for children to get on their bikes and develop their skills. One such project coming soon

RIGHT

(clockwise) A rider competes in the Race The Worlds Pump Track qualifier in Kennoway; Morrison’s Academy pupil Ben showcases his skills; Local schools attend The Power of the Bike Challenge event at Emirates Arena; Pupils take part in skills sessions led by Scottish Cycling BELOW Competition is fierce at the Mini-Downhill qualifer in Newcastleton is the inaugural Scottish Schools’ Mountain Bike Championships, organised with Morrison’s Academy in Crieff and Comrie Croft MTB Centre. Taking place on 14 September 2023, this will be a Cross-country event with competitors in three age categories, each of which will feature individual girls’ and boys’ races as well as a team race. Hoping to make the event as inclusive as possible, there will also be a Ride The Worlds event, ‘Rock Up and Ride’, which includes coaching and a mini race for pupils new to the sport.

One Morrison’s Academy pupil who will be competing is Ben, who believes it is opportunities like this which have helped him discover a passion for mountain biking. “Grassroots events have enabled me to progress to racing across the UK at a national level,” he says. “Along the way, I have made so many new friends, who I otherwise wouldn’t have known, and learned skills that I can apply to all aspects of my life. Above all, it is enormous fun and I’m so excited about having the chance to represent my school in the competition.”

The power of imagination

We have also linked up with Education Scotland to deliver The Power of the Bike Challenge, a creativity and design project looking for innovative ideas and solutions to release the power of the bike for all of us. We asked pupils and community groups to work as teams to develop their own creative ideas and products to make cycling better. Their young minds came up with some great ideas from clever hacks to make schools and communities more bike friendly, to new designs for BMX or mountain biking courses, and even smart ideas for innovative new cycling businesses. Keep your eyes peeled for some of these brilliant ideas on display at the venues during the Championships.

Everyone who rides an Experience The Worlds event between now and October could win a whole host of cycling goodies. Interested? Find out which events are happening near you here: www.bit.ly/etwbc