The UCI Cycling World Championships is the biggest cycling competition in the world. Bringing together over 8,000 elite and amateur cyclists from more than 120 countries to compete in 13 World Championships over 11 days.
This year the UCI Cycling World Championships was the first multidiscipline event of its kind. Having never held all 13 championships in one city before, the world’s greatest riders came together in Glasgow Scotland. As it was the first time the event had ever been held in the city, there was a great deal of excitement that built up ahead of the event.
Provision of event overlay
GL events were proud to be appointed to deliver event Overlay for the UCI Cycling World Championships this year, which included the Principal Contractor role. The team took on the responsibility not only of providing a complete holistic event infrastructure solution, but also of managing all other contractors delivering other services for the organisers of the event. A key element of GL events’ role was to offer the client a complete end to end managed solution, using a skilled and highly experienced team. This appointment came just a year after GL events’ successful delivery at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games as Official Overlay Supporter, Principal Designer and Principal Contractor.
As part of GL events’ bespoke overlay delivery, trackway, crowd barriers, floor coverings, tents, commentary booths and much more were installed throughout venues across Glasgow. Some of these included iconic locations such as St George Square, the Emirates Arena and Glasgow Green. GL events even returned to Knightswood providing a similar overlay structure for the BMX Competition as it delivered at the European Championships in 2018.
GL events were able to curate a fully comprehensive range of overlay solutions across these four very different venues. At each location the team implemented thorough risk assessments, carried out on-site inductions, and followed robust health and safety procedures, providing not only a world-class event experience but also a secure environment for all involved.
Due to the nature of a multidiscipline event, each venue had to be tailored to specifically suit each different championship competition that was taking place. For instance, at St George Square, satellite pop-ups and road race-appropriate barriers were set up, whereas at the Emirates Arena, the requirements were entirely unique as the venue hosted indoor events like artistic cycling and bike ball.
Turnkey event solutions
In addition to the comprehensive management of overlay structures at the four event venues, GL events also played a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth operation of the media hub, at the BBC Broadcast Centre. The provision of cabins, fences, and tents, tailored to the specific needs of the media, ensured that representatives had a comfortable and functional workspace, displaying GL events’ versatility and commitment to facilitating all aspects of the event.
Previous success at the 2022 Commonwealth Games served as a blueprint for the management framework that was applied at the UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow. Drawing on the lessons learned from its role in Birmingham, GL events was able to provide a multi-commodity management structure to ensure everything ran smoothly.
Delivery was not without its challenges. Due to the procurement process put in place, there were time constraints over the period on-site teams had for providing and installing the necessary event structures. Nevertheless, GL events demonstrated flexibility rising to the challenge and reacting quickly to engineer solutions that fitted with the requirements of the event and worked within the client’s budgets. Their ability to react swiftly and efficiently allowed the provision of temporary structures that seamlessly aligned with the unique demands of the UCI Cycling World Championships.
Event infrastructure at pace and scale
The rapid construction of structures across all four event venues was completed within an astonishing four-week window and everything was removed within just two weeks. Meticulous planning and execution ensured that the impact on the local Glasgow community was kept to an absolute minimum. GL events dedication to delivering high-quality event infrastructure within these reduced timeframes reflects a commitment to excellence and is proof of the team’s expertise.
The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships was a testament to the collaboration and dedication of organisers, contractors, and the cycling community. It showcased the world’s elite and amateur cyclists but also highlighted the capabilities of GL events in delivering outstanding event management and infrastructure solutions. As we reflect on the event, it is clear that the success achieved this year will serve as a benchmark for future multidiscipline sporting events.
