Today’s Yorkshire 2019 Para-Cycling International was the first-ever para-cycling event to take place alongside a UCI Road World Championships. The races took place in glorious conditions before the opening ceremony kicked off the 2019 UCI Road World Championships in the Harrogate Fan Zone.
Tens of thousands of fans turned out to cheer on the best para-cyclists in the world as they competed in the first-ever para-cycling event to be held alongside the UCI Road World Championships.
89 male and female para-athletes battled it out in no less than 26 different races across all four para-cycling classifications. Setting off from Beverley, Tadcaster and Wetherby, every race finished in Harrogate and the results will count towards qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Great Britain’s Adam Duggleby was the very first rider to cross the finish line piloting Hebden Bridge resident Stephen Bate after emerging triumphant in the B class ahead of Ireland’s Damien Vereker and Paul Forristal. Katie-George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal of Ireland won the B Women’s race.
Sarah Storey meanwhile, was one of five world champions in action and she too romped to victory in the C5 class.
And then, once the para action had concluded, attention immediately turned to the Fan Zone as huge crowds saw UCI President David Lappartient officially declare the UCI Road World Championships open alongside Yorkshire 2019 CEO Andy Hindley, British Cycling CEO Julie Harrington and Welcome to Yorkshire Commercial Director Peter Dodd.
The Championships’ racing will start on Sunday with the Team Time Trial Mixed Relay that will see male and female athletes compete alongside each other for the very first time.
Yorkshire 2019 CEO Andy Hindley said: “I’ve been completely blown away by the weather, crowds, scenery and support. The racing was brilliant too and all the riders were telling me it’s the best event to happen since London 2012. That means so much to me as we really wanted this to be a meaningful event, held on exactly the same stage as the Championships. The dream has become a reality today.
“The Fan Zone is looking incredible too and we’re fully go now that the opening ceremony has taken place. We’re ready to host the brand-new Team Time Trial Mixed Relay and there’s eight days of equally incredible racing ahead.”
