GLENTRESS Forest, which sits in the Tweed Valley has been named as one of nine current host venues for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.

Some of the world’s best mountain bike riders will tackle its famous terrain when it hosts the Mountain Bike Cross-country and Mountain Bike Cross-country Marathon as part of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships which is being held in Glasgow and across Scotland in August 2023.

The Championships will be the first time Glentress Forest will have staged an event of such international magnitude despite having legendary status among mountain bike enthusiasts as one of the famed 7Stanes trail centres and having a reputation as a breeding ground for world-class riders.

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Taking place across 11 days from 3-13 August 2023, more than a million spectators are anticipated as well as a global television audience of around one billion, making it one of the world’s top 10 sporting events.

Councillor Euan Jardine, Leader of Scottish Borders Council said: “I am incredibly proud that by working with a number of partners, including South of Scotland Enterprise and Forestry and Land Scotland, we have been able to bring these UCI World Championship events to the Scottish Borders.

“This will not only cement the reputation of the Tweed Valley as one of the world’s best mountain biking locations, but also the Scottish Borders generally as Scotland’s leading cycling destination.

 

 

“Glentress has been a catalyst for change and growth over a number of years, bringing cyclists to the area, boosting tourism, investment and jobs, and inspiring more people to ride. The communities of the Tweed Valley and their support and enthusiasm has also been vital in making this such a special and unique place for cycling.

“Both the short and long term benefits of hosting the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championship will be significant for our local economy and that is why we are so determined to bring more events of this magnitude to the area.”

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John Dougan, Regional Manager with Forestry and Land Scotland said: “Welcoming these two UCI World Championship events will be a terrific inauguration for the new updated Glentress layout that is currently in development.

“Our refreshed offer will include a new skills area, new trails and trail features, all being taken forward as part of our Glentress Masterplan. These works will bring the venue and its 45 miles of mountain bike trails up to national and international race specifications.

“We’re really looking forward to the 2023 events and we’re sure it will be a huge success and mark the beginning of a new exciting chapter for Glentress, hopefully with it hosting many more top flight events in the future.”