Region to host HSBC | UK National Road Championships in 2020
With just 100 days to go until Vélo Birmingham & Midlands, event organisers have today announced a landmark partnership agreement with British Cycling that will see the region play host to the HSBC UK | National Road Championships.
Running from the 18th-20th June 2020, the championships will now form part of the UK’s second biggest closed road cycling event.
With Britain’s best male and female riders set to go head to head in a time trial within Warwickshire and a road race from Birmingham to Wolverhampton, aligning the historic championships alongside Vélo Birmingham & Midlands 2020 will deliver a week of world-class cycling within the Midlands.
Julie Harrington, chief executive of British Cycling, said: “This partnership is fantastic news for the Midlands, for the HSBC UK | National Road Championships and for our riders, as they prepare for a home Commonwealth Games in 2022.
“While winning medals at international level is a huge part of our remit, the value of those medals, and the impact of elite riders’ performances is hugely important to unlocking the benefits that cycling can bring to society, and partnering with an organisation such as Active Sport will help us deliver on these ambitions.”
Cllr Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “Birmingham is delighted to be hosting the British Cycling National Championship road cycling event and Vélo Birmingham & Midlands in one weekend and I am sure residents will provide tremendous support to all those taking part in both events. It is a fantastic reminder of Birmingham and the region’s ability to host world class sporting events with immense support from the general public. The event also supports our work to promote cycling as a sustainable way to travel and reduce emissions. Good luck to all those taking part.”
Richard Relton, chief executive of event organisers Active Sport, said: “We are hugely excited to announce a new partnership with British Cycling to align the HSBC UK | National Road Championships with Vélo Birmingham & Midlands in 2020. Bringing together two highlights of the British cycling calendar poses considerable benefits for both events. We look forward to using our expertise in organising large scale sporting events to put on what promises to be an incredible festival of cycling.”
The 2020 championships will begin on Thursday 18th June with the under-23 and elite time trials, with a circuit around North Warwickshire starting and finishing in Atherstone town centre. The under-23 and elite road races will then take place on Saturday 20th June, starting at Centenary Square in Birmingham and ending in Wolverhampton for a city centre finish.
Established as the UK’s second biggest cycling event, Vélo Birmingham & Midlands will take up to 15,000 riders of all abilities on a 100 or 45 mile journey through the West Midlands on Sunday June 21st, 2020.
With both routes officially finalised, a limited number of general entries into the previously sold-out 100 mile route have been released along with entries into the ‘point-to-point’ 45 mile route from Birmingham to Coventry.
To find out more about the 2020 HSBC UK | National Road Championships, and the course routes, visit: www.britishcycling.org.uk
