Yorkshire is "bidding to boost its burgeoning profile on the international cycling stage by applying to host the 2019 UCI Road World Championships," according to the LONDON TIMES. The U.K. government has guaranteed to both back the event with £24M ($32M) of investment and to "underwrite the full cost of the bid, which was compiled in partnership with British Cycling and UK Sport" before being presented to UCI President Brian Cookson by Welcome to Yorkshire CEO Gary Verity. The proposed race program will "include starts in north, south, east and west Yorkshire." All four ridings have "embraced the Tour de Yorkshire." Verity, who believes "cycling is in Yorkshire's DNA," feels the four-ridings area has the "infrastructure and passion to make a success of the event." Verity said, "Yorkshire has everything a bike race could wish for. We can promise a grueling but spectacular range of routes, huge crowds and the very warmest of welcomes." The championships span eight days and "include individual and team time-trials" as well as full road races for U18, U23 and elite male and female riders (LONDON TIMES, 8/18).
