News: Doncaster Track

The Doncaster Cycle Track , a one kilometre long, 6 metre-wide traffic-free circuit with a cobbled climb to be completed ahead of the Women’s Junior Road Race and Men’s U23 Road Race which start at the new facility on Friday 27 September.

News: Doncaster Track

The first major legacy investment into cycling facilities across the country has been showcased in Doncaster to mark 50 days to go until the 2019 UCI Road World Championships. It comes as part of a country-wide campaign to engage people with this once-in-a-generation event and to inspire everyone, from all walks of life, to get on a bike.

The Doncaster Cycle Track is a 1km-long, 6m-wide traffic-free circuit for cyclists of all ages and abilities and will be completed ahead of the Women’s Junior Road Race and Men’s U23 Road Race which start at the new facility on Friday 27 September. The ribbon was cut by Mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones along with British Cycling President Bob Howden OBE.

Joining the dignitaries were three-time Olympic gold medallist Ed Clancy (above) and fellow professional cyclist Graham Briggs (both Vitus Pro Cycling p/b Brother UK). Fifty schoolchildren and members of the local community then became the first to cycle the track which will be used by local cycling groups ahead of the Championships. The track features the world’s only purpose-built, man-made cobbled climb and is expected to attract over 40,000 visitors in its first year alone.

This £1.5 million dedicated community facility has been made possible with funding from Doncaster Council and the Places to Ride programme, delivered in partnership with the Department of Culture Media and Sport, Sport England and British Cycling. The programme supports the development of new and improved cycling facilities across England.

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Ed Clancy, three-time Olympic Gold Medallist from Barnsley, said: “Facilities like this one in Doncaster are absolutely critical in ensuring that people from communities of all ages and abilities can embrace cycling in a fun and safe environment. The Places to Ride funding programme will ensure that the Championships leave a genuine legacy, not just in Yorkshire but across the whole country. So, whether you’re in the park with your children, doing the commute to work or making use of a local facility, we want people to feel inspired by this once in a generation opportunity and #OwnTheRide this summer.”

Bob Howden OBE, President of British Cycling, said: “Evaluating the success of a major cycling event in the UK, is now a wide-ranging process, which goes far beyond the counting of medals or jerseys won. A key factor in the growth of cycling in Britain has been the inspiration to participation that follows both high profile events and the winning performances of our athletes. The staging of the UCI Road World Championships has helped to unlock vital funding for the Places to Ride Programme, which will enable thousands more people to ride a bike at new and improved facilities across the country.”