LARGE crowds turned out for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships opening ceremony which was held in George Square Glasgow last night Wednesday August 2.

A parade featuring hundreds of cyclists in the People's Peloton and several flag bearers also took place in the city centre led by Bessie, who is based on a suffragette who played the bagpipes in the late 19th century.

The championships were officially opened by UCI President David Lappartient.

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And this was followed by a free to enter event headlined by Scottish singer KT Tunstall which was hosted by Scottish Commonwealth Games silver medalist Charline Jones and cycling commentator and comedian Alan Anderson.

The inaugural 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will take place across the country from today, Thursday August 3 until Sunday, August 13.

Around 8000 elite and amateur cyclists from more than 120 countries will compete in 13 world championships featuring seven disciplines.

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Glentress Forest, which sits in the Tweed Valley in the Scottish Borders, will see some of the world’s best mountain bike riders tackle its famous terrain when it hosts the Mountain Bike Cross-country and Mountain Bike Cross-country Marathon.

The Glentress events start on Sunday August 6 and run through to Saturday Auguust 12.