With both their Birmingham and Sussex sportives cancelled, 2018 has not been an easy year for the Velo sportive franchise - but now there's some good news to cheer, as the 2019 edition of Velo Birmingham has been announced.
Featuring a new name and new route, Vélo Birmingham & Midlands (as it's now called) will return on Sunday 12 May 2019. With 17,000 riders it's the UK's second largest closed-road cycling event after RideLondon.
The new 100-mile route will take cyclists on what the organisers CSM are calling "an unforgettable journey through the West Midlands" including the chance to make Strava history as the course passes through two major city centres.
Once again starting in the heart of Birmingham city centre, the new route will travel through the heart of the 2021 City of Culture - Coventry - where riders will cycle on the cobbled roads surrounding the historic Coventry Cathedral.
In between these two city centre adventures, riders will travel through Solihull, Warwickshire, Dudley and Sandwell where they will encounter stunning countryside, panoramic views, picturesque villages, iconic climbs and tens of thousands of residents lining the streets to cheer them on.
Addressing the concerns of local communities
We've hinted above at some of the challenges faced by Velo events, with local concerns over disruption to business a recurring issue. The organisers say they are addressing these concerns, "working closely with local authority partners to ensure the event positively impacts the communities it travels through and provides a lasting legacy for the region."
Moreover, by adjusting the route and moving the event to a spring slot (the 2017 Velo Birmingham took place in late September) with additional daylight hours, it's hoped the new event will have the capacity and infrastructure to enable Velo to fulfil its long-term ambition of becoming one of the world's biggest and most iconic sportives.
Alongside growing the event in terms of overall capacity, organisers aim to make the event one of the UK's most female friendly sportives, setting themselves the ambitious target of increasing the number of women taking part to 50% by the time Birmingham hosts the Commonwealth Games in 2022. The ambition is underpinned by a long-term strategy, which looks to tackle the barriers and understand motivators to women entering sportive events, with the aim of working closely with key partners to get more women to take part year on year.
The event also provides an important charity fundraising platform. In 2017, participants raised a staggering £2 million for several charities, including Cure Leukaemia, NSPCC, Alzheimers Society and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, all of whom remain as headline charity partners in 2019.
Vélo Birmingham & Midlands will also once again feature the Business 100 corporate challenge, which will aim to attract 100 Midland based companies to sign up teams of four and enjoy an unrivalled VIP participation experience.
A fantastic spectacle of cycling
Hailing the launch of the rebranded sportive, Lord Sebastian Coe, Chairman of organisers CSM, said:
"We are delighted that Vélo Birmingham & Midlands is returning in May 2019. The fantastic support for the event from our local authority partners demonstrates the importance for the Midlands of hosting major events in the build up to the 2022 Commonwealth Games and we thank them enormously for helping us create this stunning 100-mile route.
"The new and improved route really shows off the beauty and diversity of the Midlands and the opportunity to experience cycling through the heart of two major Midlands cities on closed roads will provide a truly unique experience for the 17,000 riders taking part.
"The event will be a fantastic spectacle of cycling, charity fundraising and community spirit and I am sure it will inspire people of all ages and abilities to take up the sport of cycling and lead a healthier, more active life."
Coe also told how his father, Peter, had been a keen cyclist all his life and a member of Herne Hill cycling club. "He once missed me breaking the 1,500 metres world record because he was watching a stage of the Tour de France," Coe recalled. "And I remember that he once told a journalist from the Times that he always regretted I hadn't won the Tour de France!"
A positive impact on the local economy
Political leaders in the regions hosting the sportive have also voiced their support for the event and the financial benefits and prestige it brings. Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said:
"As we get ready to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the Vélo Birmingham and Midlands will be a great event to showcase the best of the region. This was an absolute triumph last year with 15,000 people riding their bikes on the closed road route and many residents coming out to support them. There was also a very positive impact on the local economy, and of course the thousands of pounds raised for different charities.
"I invite residents and those coming to visit the West Midlands to take part in what is sure to be another hugely successful event."
And for anyone thinking of signing up but daunted by the challenge, Martin Johnson, England rugby World Cup-winning captain, cycling fanatic and Vélo Birmingham & Midlands ambassador, has some encouraging words:
"The inaugural Vélo Birmingham was a truly amazing experience and I can't wait to join thousands of riders on the start line of the 2019 event.
"The combination of a brand-new route along with all the other positive changes organisers are making will no doubt result in the 2019 event being even more spectacular than the first edition in 2017.
"My advice to anyone who is tempted to enter but is doubting their ability to complete 100 miles would be to just take the plunge and go for it! I speak from experience when I say that with the right training it's an extremely achievable goal. Completing a century ride is a huge accomplishment and the feeling when you cross the finish line will be worth all the hard work."
Entries will open on Thursday, October 4th with exclusive access to everyone who pre-registers before midnight on Wednesday October 3rd. The inaugural event in 2017 sold out 15,000 entries in just three days, and with over 40,000 pre-registrations already received for 2019, competition for places on the start line is again expected to be fierce.
To pre-register, visit the Velo Birmingham & Midlands website at velobirmingham.com.
0 Comments