Nat Bromhead
The race to the start line of Wollongong’s 2022 UCI Road World Championships is well underway, with just 100 days until the world’s best riders descend on the coastal city.
National Federations and local enthusiasts are scoping the challenging courses, and athletes are expressing their desire to compete for a rainbow jersey in Wollongong, including the recent and first ever Australian winner of the Giro d’Italia Jai Hindley.
The city is preparing to welcome the international cycling community for world-class racing from 18-25 September, when 13 UCI World Champion titles will be awarded.
With just over three months until the starting flag is waved, the Organising Committee Wollongong 2022 and event partners are finalising plans with organisers reporting current activities include:
- Progressing city works to deliver a world-class course, a positive visitor experience and legacy benefits for the local community
- Ongoing volunteer recruitment for key roles including course marshals, drivers and welcome hosts to join the 1,000 registrants for the Wollongong 2022 Volunteer Program supported by Wilson Asset Management
- The NSW Government has announced 12 Illawarra organisations will share in $220,000 in the final round of the event’s Legacy Partnership Program
- Launching new content to attract visitors to the region before, during and after the event including a new guide ‘100 things to see and do in Wollongong’
- Increasing numbers of students completing Ride Nation Bike Immersion Days and the release of new school activity worksheets to help students learn about the history and diversity of the UCI Road World Championships
UCI President David Lappartient said that cycling’s international governing body was excited to return to the Southern Hemisphere this coming September with its leading annual event.
“Staging the 2022 UCI Road World Championships in Wollongong, Australia, provides us with a wonderful opportunity to continue to grow interest in cycling globally,” Mr Lappartient said.
“The athletes, fans and officials are very excited about coming to the UCI Bike City of Wollongong, experiencing the challenging courses and taking in the Australian culture and enthusiasm for cycling.”
Wollongong 2022 Chair Dean Dalla Valle said excitement and anticipation about the event was increasing among the local community.
“As local riders and visitors are getting out to try the course, there’s a real eagerness for September and the UCI Road World Championships to arrive,” Mr Dalla Valle said.
“Interest grew significantly following the recent success of Australian riders including Jai Hindley on the UCI World Tour, and we hope to see our green and gold riders on the podium in Wollongong.
ABOUT THE 2022 UCI ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2022 UCI Road World Championships will be held in the coastal city of Wollongong, Australia, from 18-25 September. The event will attract some 1,000 of the world’s best cyclists from 70+ countries to compete for a coveted Rainbow Jersey and the title of World Champion.
The event includes 11 races across three disciplines: Individual Time Trials, a Team Time Trial Mixed Relay and Road Races. It is expected 300,000 spectators will line the course across the week, and an expected 300 million viewers will tune in from around the world.
