Canberra bids for 2008 MTB Worlds

Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Vice-President, Ray Godkin, and technical delegate, Scott Sharples, visited Canberra this week to assess Canberra's bid for the 2008 UCI Mountain Bike and Trails World Championships.

Cycling Australia (CA) President, Mike Victor, CA Chief Executive, Graham Fredericks, Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA) President, Gillian Duncan and MTBA Executive Officer, Tony Scott, accompanied the UCI delegates on their visit.

Before touring the Mount Stromlo facility, Canberra Off-Road Cyclists (CORC) and Apis Consulting presented Canberra's bid to hold the Championships. Former CEO of the Sydney Organising Committee, Sandy Hollway lent strong support to the bid in his closing presentation to the delegates.

The delegates travelled by helicopter to the course, giving them an aerial view of the facility and its urban proximity. Course Designer, Glen Jacobs, spent over 4 hours with the delegates, walking the proposed downhill course and explaining the cross country, 4X and trials courses.

CORC President Anthony Burton said “the Canberra bid team had received positive feedback from the delegates who were impressed by the outstanding quality of the bid, the Mount Stromlo facility, and the commitment of the ACT Government to Mountain Biking. Canberra really is the Australian Cycling Territory.”

Mount Stromlo and its surrounds have been home to mountain biking in Canberra for decades. In the fires that devastated parts of Canberra in 2001 and again in 2003, most of the riding tracks were destroyed. Since this time, the ACT Government has committed over six million dollars to constructing a purpose-built world class cycling facility on the eastern side of the mountain. This facility is planned for completion in December 2006 and will form the event hub.