THOUSANDS of elite bikers have arrived in Scotland to compete in the world’s biggest cycling event.

The UCI Cycling World Championships will see the globe’s best cyclists take part across a range of disciplines for the first time ever.

And Glentress, near Peebles, will host its first event on Sunday – the mountain bike cross-country marathon.

The championships – which started on Thursday (August 3) and end on Sunday, August 13 – are expected to attract around one million spectators.

Ten Borders riders are gearing up to take on events.

They are Phoebe Gale, MTB downhill; Isla Short, MTB cross-country; Grant Ferguson, MTB cross-country; Joanne Thom, MTB cross-country; Emily Carrick-Anderson, MTB cross-country; Corran Carrick-Anderson, MTB cross-country; Anna McGorum, MTB cross-country; Elena McGorum, MTB cross-country; Ben Allan, MTB cross-country; and Callum Thornley, road cycling.

Euan Jardine, leader of Scottish Borders Council (SBC), called on people to come out and support their fellow Borderers.

He said: “It is no surprise that having some of the world’s best off-road trails has helped this region produce some incredibly talented riders, but it is crucial that the support is available to help them reach their full potential. As the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships get under way, I’d like to wish all those local riders competing the very best of luck and encourage everyone to get along to the events to give them as much support as possible and hopefully cheer home a Borders world champion.”

He added: “I also want to pay tribute to the local cycling clubs, coaches and organisations, such as Live Borders and ClubSport Borders, that continue to help young people to take up cycling, to race and to progress through the sport, up to the very highest level.

“As a region, cycling is a huge opportunity for us, from the visitor economy to inward business investment and health and wellbeing. Alongside a range of partners we’re committed to grasping that opportunity and hosting the World Championships are one small part of that.”

Chris Bryant, Live Borders sports development coach, added: “It is fantastic for the Scottish Borders that such a large proportion of the British team for the mountain bike cross-country events at the World Championships are from the area.

“They have grown up tackling the trails around Glentress and the Tweed Valley and will relish this opportunity to compete at the highest level in front of a home crowd, with many of them coming into the championships following success in the British National Championships earlier in the summer.”