RICHMOND, Virginia, Sept 21, 2011 – The International Cycling Union
(UCI) selected Richmond, Virginia, as host of the 2015 road cycling world
championships on Wednesday, the first US site for the event since 1986.
Oman has challenged the American bid before pulling out as a candidate,
leaving Richmond, about a two-hour drive south of Washington, to claim the
event. The last US host city was Colorado Springs in 1986.
More than 1,000 competitors from about 70 nations will ride in the event,
set for September 19-27, 2015. It will feature elite men and women competing
in road races, individual times trials and a new team time trial.
“Hosting the world championships will help bring Richmond one step closer
to being one of the world’s great bicycling cities,” Richmond mayor Dwight
Jones said.
The city hosted stops in the Tour de Trump and Tour DuPont, stage races
from around 20 years ago that included such US stars as Greg LeMond and Lance
Armstrong.
“Richmond stepped up and proved they could support world-class cycling,”
said Mike Plant, a US member of the UCI management committee.