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2010 UCI Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Cup
The
world's top mountain bikers are to be put through their paces amid
the trees and trails of the Forestry Commission estate at Dalby
Forest later this year when the 2010 UCI Mountain Bike
Cross-Country World Cup rides into Ryedale.
Following a bid by British Cycling, Yorkshire Forward, UK Sport
and the Forestry Commission to bring the event to the 3,440-hectare
(8,600-acre) site, near Pickering, world cycling's governing body –
the UCI – has announced that the event will come to Dalby in April
.
Ryedale will join destinations such as Germany, Italy and the
USA in hosting this prestigious event.
The event will take place over the weekend of the 24 and 25
April 2010 and is expected to attract over 10,000 spectators and
500 elite bikers from 24 nations. The event will also be broadcast
worldwide, with the media using Dalby's £2.3 million eco-friendly
visitor centre as their base of operations.
Tom Riordan, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Forward, who played an
integral part in securing the event to the region said:"Bringing
high profile events like the Mountain Bike World Cup are a
fantastic way for us to showcase our region to the world and
attract new investment. The visitor economy contributes over £6
billion to Yorkshire and Humber's economy every year, so it is
vital that we use our natural assets – like the Dalby Forest – to
grow this important industry and our regional economy.
"This is great news for the district and we hope it will be a
catalyst to encourage more people to participate in both
recreational and competitive mountain biking."
Cllr Linda Cowling, Chairman of Ryedale District Council's
Community Services Committee commented: "This is great news for the
district and we hope it will be a catalyst to encourage more people
to participate in both recreational and competitive mountain
biking.
Recently the Forestry Commission unveiled a new four mile 'World
Cup' trail in Dalby Forest costing £90,000, which lived up to its
billing as a course fit for champions when it was used to stage its
first competitive race.
Alan Eves, Forest Management Director with the Forestry
Commission, said: "It has been a nail biting few weeks waiting for
the decision and there is no doubt we were up against some tough
international competition. The tension has been unbelievable – but
now we can celebrate. The new World Cup trail has big climbs, fast
descents and technically demanding features and really impressed
the UCI delegates when they came to Dalby."
Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said: "This
is fantastic news for Yorkshire and in particular Dalby Forest.
Congratulations to the team behind this successful bid for a stage
of the Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Cup championship.
Yorkshire is gaining a solid reputation for its major events, which
I'm sure will continue to attract many more visitors to the
region."
Cllr John Weighell, Leader, North Yorkshire County Council said:
"This success will confirm Dalby Forest's place as a world class
mountain biking venue. We look forward to welcoming competitors and
spectators and showing them all that North Yorkshire has to offer.
Congratulations to all concerned."
Ian Drake, CEO at British Cycling, said: "Securing two rounds of
the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in 2010 is another great
development for cycle sport in the UK which comes just hours after
the UCI announced Birmingham as the venue of the 2012 BMX World
Championships. The UK is the only country to hold two separate
rounds of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in 2010 covering the
three disciplines of cross country, downhill and four cross,
sending a strong message to the mountain bike community that we are
serious about mountain biking.
"Both events will present a great opportunity for fans to engage
with mountain biking on their doorstep and will prompt further
investment into world-class facilities, helping inspire new
generations of riders."