‘World class’ south of Scotland nominated for global cycling award

The region has been shortlisted for the inaugural UCI Cycling for All & Sustainability Awards in the UCI Bike City category.

It follows the south of Scotland’s achievement last year as the first region in the country to receive the UCI Bike Region label.

This label acknowledges the commitment to both elite cycling competition and cycling for all.

Russel Griggs OBE, chair of South of Scotland Enterprise, said: “The UCI award nomination acknowledges the exceptional contribution that partners, businesses and community groups across the south have made to increasing the positive social and environmental impacts which cycling provides to our region.

“We want cycling to become the most popular choice for shorter, everyday journeys by 2032 in the south, and this nomination highlights the progress being made to achieving our collective goal.”

The region will compete against Copenhagen in Denmark and Wollongong in Australia for the award.

The winner will be announced by the UCI during the 2024 UCI Mobility & Bike City Forum, which will be held on December 18 and 19 in Abu Dhabi.

Business minister Richard Lochhead said: “The UCI Cycling World Championships shone a global spotlight on Scotland and our strong reputation for hosting international events.

“The south of Scotland played a pivotal role in delivering an event, which continues to have far-reaching economic and social benefits.

“This nomination for this award is deserved recognition of the effort and partnership working that went into delivering the Championships and showcasing the south of Scotland as a go-to destination for major outdoor events.”

The South of Scotland Cycling Partnership, comprising of various local and national organisations representing thousands across the region, made the submission.

Since its formation in 2022, the partnership has launched a 10-year strategy to make the region one of the ‘leading cycling destinations in the world’, gained the UCI Bike Region label, and hosted three events at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, which attracted over 65 million broadcast viewers globally.

The partnership has also launched the Kirkpatrick C2C, a 250-mile coast-to-coast cycle route, developed several active travel paths, and created the River Tweed Trail, a source-to-sea walking and cycling route from Moffat to Berwick-Upon-Tweed.

Gordon Smith, destination development director at VisitScotland, said: “Cycling is a key part of the south of Scotland’s visitor offering and this nomination not only reflects the achievements of the partnership but will enhance the region’s reputation as a world-class cycling destination.”