A couple of months in the past, we had been invited to the Scottish Mountain Bike Convention in Aberdeen the place we had the pleasure of listening to Trudy Lindblade as she set out her plans for the Biking World Championships of 2023. Trudy is the Chief Government Officer of the 2023 UCI Biking World Championships, set to supervise 13 Biking World Championship Occasions hosted in Scotland subsequent August. It’s the first time within the UCI’s historical past that the World Champs for all UCI-recognized biking disciplines (with the notable exception of Cyclo-cross) shall be held collectively in what organizers are calling a Mega Occasion.
Trudy spoke with nice enthusiasm in regards to the monumental activity she and her group have forward of them, making it very clear what an unbelievable alternative this World First occasion is for the game of biking and everybody that’s a part of it, in addition to everybody who just isn’t but a part of it however will most positively be thereafter.
Showdowns for BMX Freestyle Flatland, BMX Freestyle Park, BMX Racing, Gran Fondo, Indoor Biking, Para-Biking Street, Para-Biking Observe, Street, Observe, Trials, Mountain Bike Cross-Nation and Mountain Bike Downhill will all happen over August 3-13, a time throughout which myself and my Bikerumor colleagues will want we might be in a number of locations directly. Additionally… and that is pure conjecture from me, however given EDR-Enduro’s (previously the EWS) latest call-up to UCI World Cup standing, it wouldn’t in any respect shock me to see a 14th occasion added sooner or later. Once more, pure conjecture, however i’d most likely wager a minimum of half of the £1.26 in my again pocket on it.
We sat down with Trudy to be taught extra about particular plans for the World Championships, and how much legacy she hopes will stay after the mud has settled, and the medals awarded.
Interview with Trudy Lindblade, CEO of 2023 UCI Biking World Championships
Bikerumor: 2023 would be the first time within the historical past of the UCI that 13 Biking World Championship Occasions shall be hosted in the identical place. Are you able to inform us why that call was made, as a substitute of getting the Championships unfold out throughout a number of international locations and continents as has historically been the case?
Trudy Lindblade: When the UCI President David Lappartient got here in for his first time period, this was a part of his manifesto, coming into his presidency to try to convey all of the World Championships collectively. And it was simply to create an occasion of measurement and scales, so biking may have that second the place everyone on the planet can see what an important large sport biking is. And it’s not simply, you understand, the Olympic sports activities that you simply see on TV each couple of years, whether or not or not it’s the Commonwealth Video games or Olympic Video games.
Bringing it collectively, they will put biking entrance and heart each 4 years, as a result of the occasion shall be held each 4 years previous to the Olympic Video games. It helps with that sustainable way forward for biking. So once more, displaying the depth and breadth of biking.
Individuals who may historically haven’t thought of a self-discipline may go, “Properly, I would give {that a} go”. After which there’s a brand new viewers piece. So, by bringing them collectively we’re mixing the audiences as nicely. Trigger if you concentrate on biking, it may be fairly tribal in a manner.
Um, so we’ve obtained a chance to say “Properly come and discover one thing slightly bit completely different”. After which hopefully by doing that we’re offering that new viewers alternative to develop individuals, and produce individuals into the game. And that bringing individuals into the game could be extra individuals using bikes. It may be business revenues, you understand, any of these forms of issues, which kind of goes again to that sustainable way forward for the game.
How does biking sustain with the opposite large sports activities on the planet to guarantee that it has a long-term future. And there’s a number of different issues; clearly the UCI and biking are doing, however for this and our function, you understand, bringing an occasion of measurement and scale collectively in a single spot means that you can cling a number of different issues off it.
Bikerumor: Forgive me. Are there biking disciplines that shall be within the World Championships that aren’t an Olympic Sport?
Trudy Lindblade: That’s okay! So, there are some non-Olympic Sports activities. So, um, a number of the BMX and City will not be Olympic sports activities.
So, Trials and Flatland. Um, you’ve obtained Indoor Biking, so Cycle Ball and Inventive Biking. Um, not all the mountain bike occasions are Olympic Occasions. So, you’ve obtained fairly a variety of disciplines which might be within the World Championships that aren’t essentially seen on that large stage on daily basis.
And I feel notably for a few of these rising sports activities, and I like to make use of the instance of Inventive Biking as a result of after I describe that to individuals, they’re intrigued by it as a result of it is vitally completely different. , Inventive Biking… gymnastics on a motorbike, Soccer Ball… soccer on a motorbike, or soccer on a motorbike. The indoor worlds had been simply truly held in Belgium final week [5th November].
, it’s completely different. I despatched a few our group on the market for a reconnaissance as a result of we have to be taught a bit about it, you understand, it’s not one thing we’re conversant in they usually’ve simply come again raving about it. They mentioned it’s a very a very good occasion.
Bikerumor: It’s wonderful, and about as far faraway from biking as you’ll be able to go whereas nonetheless involving a motorbike.
Trudy Lindblade: Appropriate. It’s simply, it’s wonderful what they do. That’s the opposite factor we kind of speak about, you understand, the bike, the common-or-garden bike. I name it the common-or-garden bike as a result of it’s only a humble bike.
And you understand, it, there’s simply so many issues and parts that it might probably do for you in your on a regular basis life that’s completely different. And that’s a part of the broader messaging of our occasion is, you understand, the bike isn’t just one thing you’ll be able to win World Championships on – there may be a lot extra. So, we are able to use this occasion to offer these broader messages.
Bikerumor: I suppose with the Indoor Biking as nicely… such as you say, it was held in Belgium. I feel like components of the game have completely different ranges of following in several areas of the world. So, I suppose it’s gonna increase the profile of each single self-discipline abruptly.
Trudy Lindblade: Precisely. And, and our problem is to guarantee that we do this; it’s to offer every of these disciplines in every World Championship its acceptable second. And we’re actually aware of that as a result of we need to guarantee that that is an inclusive occasion and that inclusive means not simply making it accessible to individuals to attend or to look at or to take part, however it’s additionally, you understand, we wish to have the ability to inform individuals about your blue-ribbon occasions, and then you definitely’ve obtained your rising occasions or your lesser-known occasions. And so, we need to inform that entire story of biking. And that’s actually necessary to us.
Bikerumor: So, we’re inquisitive about understanding what the prices are going be, and likewise what the price would’ve been for you guys to place the bid collectively for Glasgow within the first place.
Trudy Lindblade: Yeah, so this was not essentially a standard strategy as a result of it got here by the UCI president’s unique manifesto.
He was speaking about it with my Chair, who’s additionally the Director of Occasions in Scotland, and a few of our funding companions at Sport Accord. It’s the place all of the sports activities come collectively annually. So, we went into an unique negotiation interval with the UCI to bid for this occasion.
Throughout that interval, we had clearly the chance to work with the UCI on demonstrating how we might have the ability to host. And the good factor is that we had, in Scotland, lately hosted the European Championships in 2018 which was a brand-new occasion. , it was a multi-sport occasion based mostly in Glasgow. The distinction right here is our occasion is Pan-Scotland, and that’s actually necessary for us that we’re participating with as a lot of Scotland as we are able to.
We had simply demonstrated that we had the flexibility to run an occasion – a model new occasion – to take it on and run it efficiently. The bid was accomplished by Occasion Scotland, Glasgow Metropolis Council, UK Sport, the Scottish Authorities and British Biking.
So, we couldn’t be doing this with out them. It was a very collaborative strategy from the start as a result of this occasion hasn’t been accomplished earlier than. So, now we have a shared imaginative and prescient with the UCI about what we want to see, and I feel that’s a very nice method to begin your bid the place we’re coming at it collectively.
We’ve taken this concept and we’re creating it collectively and we’re primarily creating collectively the UCI’s blueprint for the long run. Now, most likely that can look barely completely different in France in 2027, however a minimum of we’ll have the purposeful mannequin that can assist them take it ahead after which every nation there on in, as occurs in any main occasion, will add their bit to it.
So, we’ll put our Scottish Kilt over it, and France will put their, regardless of the equal is, over it and we’ll do it that manner. Occasions of this measurement and scale can’t be delivered with out principal funders, that are our authorities funders, however with out additionally the assist that they carry as nicely.
And Scotland’s obtained a prepared community of main occasion credentials; from transport to, you understand, their native councils – they’re all skilled in occasion supply.
Bikerumor: And what are the anticipated prices of delivering the occasion subsequent yr?
Trudy Lindblade: Yeah, so with our funding companions, it’s round £45 Million. That’s the anticipated supply price. So, you understand, we’ve obtained a chance to ship a terrific occasion. And we want our funding companions and different companions to assist us do this. So, you understand, we’ll even be bringing on a variety of business companions to complement that.
Bikerumor: You talked about throughout your discuss on the [Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland] convention that sure amenities had been already beneath improvement prematurely of the occasion. I’m questioning whether or not there shall be funding out there after the occasion to maintain a few of these amenities open. Like, for instance, simply down the highway from me at Glentress, they’re at present constructing the Begin and End area for the Cross-Nation.
Trudy Lindblade: Yeah, positively, that’s the aim of the Amenities Fund. So, the £8 Million Amenities Fund wouldn’t have occurred if we hadn’t had this World Championships. It was a little bit of a catalyst. So, we’re actually pleased with that.
And that was all about, you understand, inspiring a nation for biking about, you understand, constructing amenities. As a result of we’ve obtained all of those individuals which might be eager to cycle and we’ve obtained to ensure Scotland’s obtained these amenities to allow them to do this.
And that might be from making a pump observe to creating positive bathrooms and bogs can be found inside amenities. There’s a variety of issues that that may go towards. So, for us, completely a part of the creation of those amenities is in order that they’ve a long-term use afterwards. So, for the funding that goes out, you understand, there must be a plan that’s submitted with that funding.
And, it’s not nearly creating it for the occasion. It’s truly about, you understand, for us it’s in regards to the earlier than, throughout, and after. For us, that after piece is de facto necessary as a result of there’s no level us doing this if we don’t have the after piece. Um, and that’s actually necessary now. As soon as we’ve obtained the funding it’s as much as the native authority or the company has been issued that funding to then guarantee that they do this repairs submit. However actually, that’s all thought of within the early phases after we’re assessing the bids for funding.
So, for us that’s actually necessary. Concerning the XC Observe close to you [Glentress], we’re working actually intently with Forestry and Land Scotland to develop the brand new trails in Glentress Forest. As you understand, they’re constructing that to a Grasp Plan. We’re including on some further trails. There’ll be some very restricted short-term infrastructure. What we tried to do is restrict the quantity of short-term infrastructure as a result of we need to hold what we are able to. So, the timing for us is de facto good to be internet hosting this down within the Tweed Valley. , Forestry and Land Scotland had that Grasp Plan able to go, so we had been capable of capitalize on that.
So completely, we’ll be hoping to depart as many trails as attainable there so that folks can experience them afterwards. And actually, for a lot of of our occasions, um, you’ll be able to truly, for the time being, experience at lots of the amenities; components of the Mountain Bike Downhill, for instance.
You possibly can experience within the Tweed Valley Forest. You won’t know the path but as a result of they haven’t launched the path, however there’ll be components that folks can try to discover. , you’ll be able to go to the Glasgow Velodrome on a Saturday or after work. Um, you understand, the Velodrome is open and I feel that’s a little-known incontrovertible fact that the Velodrome is open practically on daily basis of the yr. And you’ll go in and experience it. You are able to do a taster session, you may get your observe license, you’ll be able to take your youngsters on a Saturday morning. That’s a little bit of a legacy from the [2018] Commonwealth Video games.
So once more, you’ve obtained one other main occasion legacy that we’re ready to make use of, you understand, just below 10 years on. Um, so actually necessary that we get individuals to expertise what we are able to, and, you understand, emulate their heroes to create the heroes of the long run.
Bikerumor: Are you able to inform us a lot about what the occasion at Fort William [Downhill] will seem like? Will any new trails infrastructure be moving into? Will the downhill observe be modified in any manner for the occasion or is it too early to say?
Trudy Lindblade: It’s slightly bit too early to say, however we’re positively working with Nevis Vary and with Uncommon Administration, our occasion supply associate, on what we are able to do to make the World Championships particular.
As a result of we all know how particular the World Cups are. I had the pleasure of being there this yr and simply, Wow. What an occasion. It bucketed down with rain. And it didn’t change how individuals behaved. Have you learnt what I imply? Like everybody’s nonetheless engaged. It was nonetheless good. It had nice racing. My son watches that downhill video, I reckon each second evening.
So, our problem is, how will we make it that bit higher? How will we make it right into a World Championship?
In order that’s the problem we’ve set our group, the problem we’ve set Uncommon Administration, and the problem we’ve set Nevis Vary. Um, and a part of that’s wanting on the course. So, um, there shall be extra to come back. Yeah, we’ll positively be how we are able to make it simply that little bit completely different.
Bikerumor: Perhaps some legacy options to remind everybody of the World Championships?
Trudy Lindblade: Completely. And you understand what? We’ve obtained actually prepared and prepared companions in Nevis Vary and likewise Sports activities Scotland and the Scottish Authorities who would assist. If we are able to make these adjustments, we’ll guarantee that we do this. So, we’re in these discussions for the time being and hopefully we’ll have one thing thrilling to share quickly.
Bikerumor: For the occasions themselves, will there be funding to assist athletes from deprived backgrounds to make the journey to Scotland compete?
Trudy Lindblade: Yeah, so this occasion is a chance for the UCI and for us to have a look at issues slightly bit in a different way.
So, it’s an goal of the UCI and, and with our assist, to have as many international locations as attainable compete. Um, we speak about 120 nations of the 202 member federations of the UCI. If we may, we’d have each member nation compete and we’d work out a manner of supporting the UCI to make that occur.
Clearly, the position that we’ll play because the occasion supply associate is that we’ll try to make, notably for a few of these nations that should not have the assets that a number of the larger nations have, we are going to present some on the bottom options to assist them. And, I feel a very good instance there may be the para-athletes.
Um, so ensuring, since you’ve obtained para-athletes that compete in highway and observe, we’re how we may help them transfer between the venues. So, we’re working to search out choices to work with them to make issues simpler as a result of we all know, and notably as the primary version of this occasion, we all know how individuals will transfer across the occasion and the competitors schedule helps us with that planning.
Um, so we’re speaking to all of the federations and discovering out what works, what their questions are. Is there something that we want to consider as an organizer and the way can we assist them? After which clearly the UCI will play its roles by the way it makes use of its Solidarity Fund and different issues that they’ve in place for the way they assist member federations which may want extra assist in order that. However as soon as they’re on the bottom, we’ll actually do what we are able to for these nations that should not have not the identical assets because the others. In reality, even for the massive nations, we additionally need to make it so simple as attainable for them too.
So, it’s simply putting the steadiness to be trustworthy, as a result of we are able to’t do the whole lot for everybody. We’ve obtained an incredible occasion to run. However we wish everybody to come back to Scotland and expertise a good time. In order that’s our goal.
You possibly can hold updated with 2023 UCI Biking World Championships information on Instagram, Twitter, and Fb, and plan your journey to Scotland to look at the motion in individual at cyclingworldchamps.com
