May 1/07 3:16 am - UCI Awards 'UCI Bike City' Label to Copenhagen

Posted by Editor on 05/1/07
 

UCI Awards 'UCI Bike City' Label to Copenhagen
Courtesy UCI

The President, Pat McQuaid, travelled on 1st May to Copenhagen to meet the Danish Minister for Sport, Mr Brian Mikkelsen, and the Mayor of Copenhagen, Mr Martin Geertsen, for the signing of the UCI Bike City contract between the International Cycling Union and the city of Copenhagen.

Copenhagen is the first city to have been awarded the UCI Bike City label.

The UCI Bike City concept, developed by the International Cycling Union, is designed for internationally renowned cities wanting to get involved in cycling (from competition to sport for all), as an environmentally-friendly leisure sport and a gentle means of transport.

Cities that wish to obtain this label submit their application to the UCI to organise several events on the UCI international calendar such as World Cups, World Championships and other UCI series. All disciplines are concerned: road, track, mountain bike, cyclo-cross, BMX, trials, indoor cycling, para-cycling and cycling for all.

The awarding of the label is decided based on criteria such as the international standing of the city and its active commitment to develop cycling (e.g., organisation of cycling events, network of cycle tracks and other quality facilities).

The label enables these selected cities to organise major events and also to have a high level of media coverage. They will in fact receive major media coverage given to UCI international events and also, on a wider scale, regular publicity as a bike city (above all as a tourist attraction).

Copenhagen will organise the following UCI major events: a UCI BMX Supercross World Cup race in 2008 and 2009, a UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics race in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, as well as the 2010 UCI Track Cycling World Championships and the 2011 UCI Road World Championships.

The UCI is delighted with Copenhagen's commitment to cycling, both in terms of the organisation of high level competitions as well is in the development of leisure cycling on a daily basis.