The UCI Road World Championships is coming to Yorkshire from the 21st to the 29th September 2019.
The blue ribband event (the men’s elite road race) departs from Leeds Millennium Square on Sunday September 29th at 8.40am and passes Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds University and Headingley, before heading onto Otley, Ilkley, Addingham and Skipton. If you’re thinking of getting the family out to support the elite men, a detailed race route map is available here
Alternatively, why not make a day of it and head to Harrogate, to soak up the atmosphere in the Fan Zone, which will be open every-day throughout the Championships.
There’s so much for families to do and experience in the Harrogate Fan Zone, especially over the first and second weekend of the Championships. And whatever the age of your kids, there are activities happening to engage and entertainment them. The Fan Zone is located on The Stray in the centre of Harrogate and is open throughout the Championships (times below), with family activities and entertainment happening between 10am and 4pm on the first and second weekend. All timings could be subject to change.
Top Tips for the Fan Zone
Dress for the weather and make sure you have warm and waterproof clothes with you. Keep bag size to under 25L (50 x 40 x 40cm) – bags larger than this will not be permitted to be brought into the Fan Zone. Click here for other Fan Zone restricted items. Allow plenty of time for entry, know where the entrances are and the walking routes from transport hubs. Plan your journey, consider using public transport, know when the last public transport is and book your parking early.
Who and what will be there
The British Army, British Cycling – with cycling focused activity for 4-10yr olds, an HSBC tent – featuring a school’s programme and competitions, an action sports arena, kids’ zone, a big screen, the BBC Bus, Harrogate Borough Council, Welcome to Yorkshire, Harrogate Baths and North Yorkshire County Council. There’ll also be a ‘stretch tent’ if it rains, loads of cycle pop up shops offering advice and cycling experiences, and a whole variety of food and drink outlets, including a bar. Finally, look out for the very collectable commemorative postcards from the spectator engagement volunteers across the championships!
Saturday 21st, Sunday September 22nd, Saturday 28th, Sunday 29th
There’s also a full schedule of family entertainment on both weekends. All activities will be open from 10am till 4pm and are suitable from 0-10-year olds and their families (and beyond for those who would like to play). There’s also a small stage area for some pop-up entertainment and shows starting from 11am. Here are just some of the brilliant family activities to get involved in when you come to the Harrogate Fan Zone.
Meet the Animals – This area will be open all day allowing families to meet all sorts of animals and creatures from giant rabbits to snakes and spiders. The Rangers will also host two educational family shows in the stage area where the kids can get to hold some exotic reptiles and insects.
Forest School – This area will be open all day for families to drop in and make and take a forest school craft and learn some forest school skills. It will be hosted by qualified Forest School practitioners and welcoming children of all ages.
Soft Play – This area will be supervised by one of the event fairies from 10-4 daily and will be for 0-3-year olds. It will include a selection of soft play and a ride on rollercoaster. Play times will be limited to 5 minutes per child at busy times.
Flower Fairy Garden – This area will be hosted by the event fairies from 10am- 4pm daily and will allow children of all ages to sit with the fairies and make magical flower wands.
Bike Themed Craft Area – This area will be hosted by an event fairy and will be open from 10-4pm daily. These crafts will be suitable for 3years and above and will include bike colouring, bike themed crafts and giant floor standing bike chalk boards. This area will be open to younger children who would like to join in and have an adult to help them.
Messy Play for 0-4yrs – This award winning educational messy play area will be hosted by a teaching professional from 10-4 daily and will include painting, play dough, scribbling and dance. With a nod towards a biking theme, little ones will be able to enjoy messy creations and some take home crafts. This area will be open to those older than 4 who would like to join in.
Face Painting – There will be two face artists from 10am- 4pm daily offering a range of body art for all ages …
Magic Tom – One of the industry’s best family magicians will be joining us daily. He will be doing two shows per day and some circus skills and balloon modelling in the Magic Corner between shows.
Harry Potter – Also in the magic corner families will enjoy meeting Harry Potter. He will be there throughout the day mix and mingling with families and showing them a trick or two. Europe’s best Daniel Radcliffe look a-like will host a Hogwarts themed tribute magic show at 3 pm daily on the stage.
The Mad Hatter On A Bike – Our fabulous Mad Hatter will be entertaining families from his magical bike. Circling the tent and greeting families as they arrive. He will engage audiences of all ages with his theatrical jolly banter throughout the day.
Costume Characters – Bertie Bear, Wizzy Wizard and a Storm Trouper will be mix and mingling with families daily. They will have set times on the stage area for families to come and say hello and have some pictures.
The Yorkshire Rotters – have confirmed that they will be able to attend on the Sunday’s. Possibly Saturday, but not confirmed yet! They use a bike to power a smoothie maker and educate families on how to reduce waste!
Stage Area
This will be set up in the centre of the marquee. It will be an intimate stage area set out with benches or hay bales and a fairy land backstage backdrop. Daily running order includes:
Monday 23rd September to Friday 27th September inclusive
From Monday 23rd to Friday 27th the team from Enchantica’s Workshop in Harrogate will be offering FREE classes for everyone to enjoy in the Fan Zone. There will be nourishing craft activities available daily from 10am-4pm plus the following activities available to choose from daily;
Exact times will be released soon, in the meantime here are the details of each session:
Baby Mindful – Baby Mindful are beautiful classes for parents and their babies, centred around the principles of mindfulness.
Baby Beats – Sing-along adventures for 0-3-year olds and their grown-ups, bringing learning to life for you and your little one.
Rising Stars – Creative journeys for 2-11-year olds focusing on the disciplines of drama and mindfulness.
Talking Tots – Develop communication skills in these fun and interactive classes for 1-5-year olds.
Dragonfly Yoga & Sound Therapy – Mind body and soul Hatha and vinyasa based yoga classes and sound therapy ceremonies
The Yoga B – This mixed ability, vinyasa class will move you at a steady pace, building up heat, endurance, flexibility, strength and ultimately inner stillness.
UCI 2019 ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – Races and Race Timings
The Harrogate Circuit
A lot of racing happens on the Harrogate circuit, with some races having to complete multiple laps before finishing on Parliament Street. If you want to experience racing away from the Fan Zone, then the best places head to are the Otley Road, Valley Gardens, Valley Drive and Ripon Road. Check out the bespoke route maps and all the timings here AND, if you want to experience what the riders will experience out on the Harrogate circuit, then ride it in real time yourself, here.
Saturday September 21st – Para Cycling International – For the first time, a UCI-sanctioned international Para-cycling event takes place alongside the UCI Road World Championships, making this a truly inclusive championship. The racing starts in Beverley, Tadcaster and Wetherby with the finishers arriving on Parliament Street in Harrogate from 2pm. Award ceremonies in the Fan Zone will be at 3pm, 4.15pm and 4.45pm.
Sunday September 22nd – Team Time Trial Mixed Relay – In another day of firsts! Yorkshire will be making history by hosting the first ever Team Time Trial Mixed Relay with national teams consisting of three male riders and three female riders. The racing starts at 12.40pm and finishes at 3.55pm. Riders will roll down a custom-built ramp in the heart of the Fan Zone before heading out onto the Harrogate circuit, and finishing on Parliament Street.
Monday September 23rd – Women’s & Men’s Junior Individual Time Trial – The women start racing at 10.10am and will be finished by 11.42pm. The men start at 1.40pm and will be finished by 4.10pm. Once again, Riders will roll down a custom-built ramp in the heart of the Fan Zone before heading out onto the Harrogate circuit, finishing on Parliament Street.
Tuesday September 24th – Men’s U23 and Women’s Elite Individual Time Trial – The men roll out from Ripon from 10.10am onwards, and you can catch the finishers in Parliament Street between 10.46am and 12.29pm. The Elite Women start in Ripon from 2.40pm and will arrive on Parliament Street in Harrogate between 3.19pm and 4.48pm.
Wednesday September 25th – Men’s Elite Individual Time Trial – The men roll out from Northallerton from 1.10pm onwards, and they finish on Parliament Street in Harrogate between 2.12pm and 3.48pm.
Thursday September 26th – Men’s Junior Road Race – The men roll out from Richmond at 12.10pm. When they arrive in Harrogate, just after 2.30pm, they’ll have to complete three laps of the Harrogate circuit before finishing on Parliament Street between 3.30pm and 4pm.
Friday September 27th – Women Junior Road Race & Men U23 Road Race – The women roll out of Doncaster at 8.40am and will arrive on Parliament Street between 11.10am and 11.30am. The men roll out of Doncaster at 2.10pm. When they arrive in Harrogate, around 5.50pm, they’ll have to complete three laps of the Harrogate circuit, before finishing on Parliament Street between 6.50pm and 7.20pm.
Saturday September 28th – Elite Women’s Road Race – The Women’s Elite riders will roll out of Bradford at 11.40am. When they arrive in Harrogate, around 2.40pm, they’ll have to complete three laps of the Harrogate circuit, before finishing on Parliament Street between 3.45pm and 4.15pm.
Sunday September 29th – Elite Men’s Road Race – The Men’s Elite riders will roll out of Leeds at 8.40am. When they arrive in Harrogate, around 2.45pm, they’ll have to complete seven laps of the Harrogate circuit, before finishing on Parliament Street between 3.30pm and 3.50pm.
You’ll get a great of the riders and their support teams as they prepare to roll out of Millennium Square early on Sunday morning. Alternatively, why not head to Woodhouse Moor Park and watch the elite men as they head up Woodhouse Lane or the Otley Old Road by Lawnswood.
In Otley, each of the town’s 24 pubs has ‘adopted’ a different cycling nation. Outside the pub the nation’s flag and bunting is being flown, and the pub name has been translated on a banner into the country’s national language.
Inside the pubs are selling drinks from their ‘twinned’ nation, food and bar snacks. In some there will are national costumes, national music, tourist brochures and travel posters – all designed to make each pub feel like a little bit of that nation in Otley. Also, check out the land art that has been created at Grove Hill Park in Otley, grid reference 53°54’05.6″N 1°42’18.0″W.
Depending on where you live in Leeds and the surrounding areas, you’ll want to be aware of the rolling road closures across the week. Full details and timings for all the UCI 2019 World Championships road closures can be found by downloading our detailed Residents Guide here and road closure maps here
Download the official Yorkshire 2019 App to keep up to date with the latest results, race teams and exclusive race tracking. This app will also help you to plan your journey, allow you to hear all the breaking news first and it will keep you up to date with all the amazing events and activities going on in the Fan Zone. The App can be downloaded via the App Store for Apple users or through Google Play on Android, just search “Yorkshire 2019”. You can also follow us on Twitter @yorkshire2019 and @Y2019travel for the latest on the championships and the travel situation in and around Harrogate.
For the very first time in the event’s 98-year history, Yorkshire 2019 have organised a publicity ‘Caravan’. This was hugely popular when the Tour de France came to Yorkshire in 2014. This year, the flotilla will travel the full route of the women’s race – departing Bradford, travelling to Harrogate – and the men’s elite race route, departing from Reeth in the Yorkshire Dales National Park to Harrogate.
So far confirmed for the Caravan are Harrogate Spring Water, Global Autocare, Alpecin, Sigma Sports, Welcome to Yorkshire, UK Sports and Leeds Cares. The Caravan will arrive in Harrogate on Saturday 28th September at 13.30 followed by one lap of the circuit and a stop. They will leave the course at 14.00. The Caravan will arrive in Harrogate on Sunday 29th September at 11.41 followed by one lap of circuit and a stop. They will leave the course at 12.11.
This is a sponsored blog post by UCI World Road Championships
